Nova Scotia

Kyley Harris fired as Premier McNeil's communications director

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil’s director of communications has been fired, a week after he revealed to the premier's office that he faced an assault charge related to a domestic matter.

Premier's communications director facing domestic charges

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil’s director of communications has been fired, a week after he revealed to the premier's office that he faced an assault charge related to a domestic matter.

Kyley Harris was put on paid leave last week, but the premier's office announced today that Harris' contract has now been terminated. It did not say why.

Halifax Regional Police have said they arrested a man May 9 after getting a report that a woman had been assaulted.

The premier’s office said last week that Harris was placed on paid leave because of a domestic matter. A spokeswoman said Harris had told the office he'd been charged.

Harris' salary as director of communications was $98,787.41 a year, according to his contract, which the premier’s office released Tuesday.

His contract says Harris is entitled to one month of salary for each year he worked for the premier’s office and the Liberal caucus, to a maximum of 12 months.

Laurel Munroe, a spokeswoman for the premier's office, says Harris' exact severance is still being worked out, but he has roughly 5.5 years of service between the premier's office and the Liberal caucus. It means his severance will likely be in the range of $45,000.