N.S. Tory members reject call to boost MLA budgets for extra security

Progressive Conservative members of a Nova Scotia legislature committee have once again blocked attempts by opposition politicians to boost the budgets of MLA offices to try to make those spaces safer.

In February, the House of Assembly Management Commission rejected a motion to allow MLAs to hire a second constituency assistant in order to minimize the amount of time those staffers work alone.

Committee members did agree, however, to consider whether office budgets could be increased to pay for extra security measures, such as automatic door locks, cameras and panic buttons.

The discussion was precipitated by an attack on an assistant working in a Liberal constituency office two months earlier.

On Wednesday, the committee heard a review determined an adequate security package would cost roughly $5,200. When opposition members proposed adding this as a one-time cost to MLA budgets, PC members objected, arguing offices are already allotted enough money to make those changes.

"I do have a second CA [constituency assistant] that works part time, and I also know that I just recently installed cameras within my budget," Danielle Barkhouse, PC MLA for Chester-St. Margaret's, told the committee.

"Just bought mine this year out of my budget and I still have money left over."

'Spend the money you have'

Her colleague, the representative for Glace Bay-Dominion, offered a similar view.

"I cannot see where people can't find the money in our budget to do this," said John White. "We are spending taxpayers' dollars and it is our responsibility to spend it appropriately.

"I think safety trumps that — I will say that — but if the money is there and we're not spending it, then spend the money you have."

The attack against Kelly Gomes, a constituency assistant of then Liberal MLA Brendan Maguire occurred last Dec. 14. A man grabbed Gomes by the throat and pinned her to the wall at Maguire's office in Halifax.

A 47-year-old man was charged with assaulting Gomes and a teenage student who was in the office on a work term.

At the time, Maguire demanded an increase to MLA budgets so that constituency assistants would not be forced to work alone.

"The reason why the resources in our offices are not being increased isn't because we don't need them, it's because of partisan purposes," Maguire said. "It's cowardice."

In February, Maguire joined the PC caucus and was named community services minister.

Surplus in legislature expenses

The latest financial update for legislature expenses showed a surplus of $670,000, thanks in large part to MLAs not spending their full budgets.

The director of operations and administration, Matthew Timmons, called it "typical for a non-election year," but he cautioned MLAs may not have submitted all their claims for the last budget year.

Liberal MLA Fred Tilly argued Wednesday that some MLAs who have higher office costs, such as office rents, might not have room in their budgets to pay for extra security.

"If you don't need it, don't use it," said Tilly, the MLA for Northside-Westmount. "But there's some MLAs that may need it." 

New Democrat Susan LeBlanc made a similar point, noting that it's a health and safety issue for people working in constituency offices.

"As employers, we should be doing everything we can to make sure the [constituency assistants] are safe," said LeBlanc.