N.S. Justice Minister Brad Johns resigns from cabinet
Nova Scotia Justice Minister Brad Johns has resigned from cabinet.
Premier Tim Houston made the announcement in a news release sent Friday evening.
The resignation comes a day after Johns's comments on domestic violence in Nova Scotia.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Johns said he didn't believe domestic violence is an epidemic — a position that's contrary to the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commissions's final report.
Thursday and Friday marked the four-year anniversary of the Nova Scotia mass shooting, a tragedy that resulted in the deaths of 22 people. The rampage began with the shooter assaulting his common-law wife.
Johns apologized for his comment on Thursday afternoon, and subsequently contacted several women's shelters across the province to personally apologize.
Houston says domestic violence taken 'very seriously'
Houston reiterated his government's position on domestic violence in Friday's news release, saying it's an issue it "takes very seriously."
"We will continue to work with partner organizations to do everything we can to support the important work being done in response to the Mass Casualty Commission's final report and in response to the ongoing epidemic of domestic violence across Nova Scotia and Canada," Houston said in his statement.
Houston's chief of staff said there would be no further comment on the resignation Friday, but did say Tim Halman will serve as acting minister of justice.
Opposition leaders weigh in
Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill, who along with NDP Leader Claudia Chender had called for Johns's resignation on Thursday, told CBC News on Friday that resigning was the appropriate thing to do.
"We have to have a minister of justice that knows how terrible the situation is with domestic violence," Churchill said. "We know in speaking with law enforcement agencies and the incredible community organizations that support women and survivors of domestic violence how much this actually goes on in our province."
Chender said she would have liked to see Johns step down earlier.
"I can't tell you how many people have reached out to me in the last 48 hours full of concern, full of questions, triggered, frankly, in many ways by a government that seemed so tone-deaf to the reality for so many people and a reality that is not often visible," she said.
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