NS justice minister calls for training on parliamentary privilege

Justice Minister Diana Whalen has requested that provincial MLAs be given training on exercising parliamentary privilege.

In a letter to the Chief Clerk of the House, Neil Ferguson, Whalen says that after a review of the parliamentary privilege process — spurred by the Andrew Younger situation — she wants to ensure MLAs are properly briefed on the protocols.

Younger, now an independent MLA, used his parliamentary privilege during the last House sitting to avoid testifying at the trial of former Liberal staffer Tara Gault, who was accused of assaulting him.

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READ MORE: Opposition parties call for Younger to step down after the minister failed to appear in court

The case was eventually thrown out after Younger refused to appear, which kicked off a spiral of events ending in his dismissal from the Liberal Cabinet and the resignation of Premier Stephen McNeil’s Chief of Staff, Kirby McVicar.

Minister Whalen said that even though parliamentary privilege is rarely used, it’s still relevant and very important to the workings of parliament.

She said the government will continue to have it as an option for MLAs to use and no changes will be made.

“In recent memory its use has only been questioned this one time,” Whalen writes.

Whalen also asked Ferguson to remind MLAs that they can go to his office for advice on using their parliamentary privilege rights.