Following an extraordinary reversal by Premier Tim Houston, the Nova Scotia legislature on Thursday adopted a bill declaring domestic violence an epidemic in the province.
The lightning fast passage of the bill introduced by the opposition NDP came less than an hour after the premier told reporters he didn’t think the legislation was necessary.
The bill’s passage also followed a tense conversation involving four women from the private sector union Unifor who were advocating for the bill — and who had cornered Houston near a hallway elevator outside the legislative chamber. Minutes later, the government was back in the house of assembly to pass a bill that went through all three readings with all-party support in just under 10 minutes.
“Today will change the life and the direction for many women and anyone experiencing intimate partner violence in the province of Nova Scotia,” said a visibly emotional Jennifer Murray, Unifor’s …