Two former MLAs are accusing Education Minister Zach Churchill of aggressive and threatening behaviour in the workplace.
The allegations are laid out in two letters sent to Speaker Kevin Murphy, Premier Stephen McNeil, PC Leader Tim Houston and NDP Leader Gary Burrill.
Global News has read the letters, both of which reference incidents that allegedly happened before the election in 2017.
In one letter, former NDP MLA Ramona Jennex says an altercation happened after budget estimates in 2012. She writes that Churchill “approached me when I exited the chambers and, using profane language, berated me verbally.”
Jennex’s letter also accuses Churchill of physical contact, saying he “poked me in the shoulder, pushing me backwards while threatening me with his face very close to mine.”
In an interview late Tuesday, Jennex says at the time she reported the incident to her caucus, and felt it had been dealt with appropriately.
“This is a situation that happened to me that I reported because I felt that it was important for the Speaker to know that there’s a pattern of behaviour,” she said.
READ MORE: N.S. Tories walk out in protest after apparent confrontation with minister over ferry
The second letter details an alleged incident in the legislature.
This former NDP MLA alleges that then-Natural Resources Minister Churchill came across the aisle after a heated question period, yanking the member on the shoulder. The letter says the physical contact “was totally unexpected” and frightened the MLA, and says that incident coupled with recent allegations of an altercation between Churchill and Houston indicates a “pattern of inappropriate behaviour.”
Both letters say the incidents were reported to the premier.
WATCH: Tories walk out over Churchill confrontation
Maureen MacDonald, who was interim NDP leader from 2013 to 2016, confirms she remembers an altercation between Churchill and a member of her own caucus after question period. She tells Global News she took it to the premier.
Churchill denies the allegations. In a statement to Global News, the minister said he has been made aware of the allegation and does “not recall either of the incidents in question.”
“What I can say is I would never touch another Member of the Legislative Assembly in the manner suggested,” Churchill stated.
“I have never hid the fact that I am passionate about certain issues, especially those affecting my riding and the people of Yarmouth. I have always believed the Legislature to be a place to debate policy but it seems of late some members of the opposition are more interested in coordinated personal attacks.”
READ MORE: Legislature’s policies would keep Houston’s next steps under wraps
Progressive Conservatives walked out of the legislature in protest last week after Houston alleged that he had been assaulted during a heated verbal argument over the Yarmouth ferry.
Houston told the legislature that Churchill had followed him into a phone booth in the members’ area and grabbed him by the shoulders during the confrontation.
In a phone interview with Global News Tuesday night, Houston says Churchill’s behaviour has escalated to a point where a “serious line was crossed.”
“This is not the type of behaviour that we should accept in any workplace in Nova Scotia or any environment in Nova Scotia,” Houston said.
“The reason we brought it to the floor of the legislature last week was for that reason. You can’t just ignore this type of behaviour.”
Houston says he currently does not have a timeline of when McNeil was made aware of the allegations, but intends to question the premier about when he was made aware of this type of alleged behaviour.
“I guess we’re going to see how serious the premier takes these types of allegations.”
Jennex says when she heard about the alleged incident with Houston she felt she needed to report to the Speaker.
“We’re in a time period where we recognize that we need to be good role models. We’ve done a lot of work in Nova Scotia on anti-bullying and we need to make sure that if there are incidents of harassment or unsafe situations, that they need to be dealt with in the appropriate manner,” Jennex said.
“But it’s not up to me to decide on what the premier should do. I let the Speaker know, so I hope there is some sort of resolution.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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