Legislative duties kept justice minister from Mount Pearl's safety meeting

Bernard Davis is facing a little backlash after missing a public meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss violent crime in Mount Pearl following a string of random attacks that resulted in seven teenagers in the community being arrested.

The justice minister told reporters on Wednesday he planned to attend the meeting, but legislative voting quorum requirements changed those plans. 

Davis said the government was debating the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act in order to appoint Kerry Hatfield as new commissioner as of Thursday.

He said he tried to slip out earlier, but there was potential to vote on an amendment. Davis said he had to be there to meet legislative quorum requirements. 

"I was actually in my car driving to the event when I received the call about a potential amendment that was not ruled in order," he said. "I had to be here to make sure that if the amendment was in order, I was there to vote for it."

Paul Lane, Independent MHA for Mount Pearl-Southlands, told reporters after the event that he was disappointed that Davis wasn't at the meeting.

Davis said his governmental responsibilities are different from Lane's.

"My duties in the House require me to be here as a government official. [Lane] can move around and not vote on important pieces of legislation all the time, and he has done that on many occasions," Davis said. "It's not something that the government has the pleasure of doing."

However, there were some members from the Department of Justice present at the public meeting on Tuesday, including RNC Chief Pat Roche, Deputy Chief Stephanie Lagace and the assistant deputy minister responsible for policing services. 

Davis said he was fully briefed on the city's concerns.

"Probably within minutes after the event, I received those individual concerns that were raised in the meeting," he said.

On Friday, Davis is meeting with Mount Pearl Mayor Dave Aker to discuss community safety.

"I want them to feel safe, and we're going to do everything we can to help in that light," Davis said.

Lane said he would like to see more police patrol his district, but maintains that the city is safe.

"It's not like wherever you go in Mount Pearl there's going to be a gang standing on every corner," Lane said. "Do I personally think Mount Pearl is an unsafe city? No, I don't."

Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.