Opposition questions lack of additional funds for medical examiner's office
Former premier Paul Davis says his government provided the medical examiner's office with additional funding, after a new report shows it was not enough.
Davis was responding to comments made by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Simon Avis last week. Avis told CBC News he flagged the same issues noted in the report released Friday to previous governments, including the Tories.
"We used to hear year-over-year there was increased demands for services and there was increased pressures within the office to meet those demands," Davis said.
"I know through budget processes that there [were] requests for additional resources — as there was for many areas, not just in justice but in government itself — but I'm not aware of any emergency cries for additional resources."
'Obviously not enough'
Davis said his government provided the office, which investigates deaths that are suspicious or unusual in nature, with a 35 per cent increase in funding.
"We did provide additional financial resources. Obviously it was not enough."
The report completed by Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Matthew Bowes, lists a myriad of problems at the office, including a lack of staffing and resources as well as inadequate space.
Those issues came to a head in 2014, when the office lost a key piece of evidence in the death of a four-month-old boy from Sheshatshiu. A charge of second-degree murder against the infant's father was withdrawn the following year.
Davis notes that despite early indications the office was in trouble, additional funds weren't allotted.
"There have been no additional resources put into the Chief Medical Examiners Office by the current Liberal government," he said.
"The Liberals are in power today, they have a responsibility to take this report very seriously, it sounds like the minister is doing that. He's been short on commitment. We'd like to see what he's doing to correct those issues."
Justice and Public Safety Minister Andrew Parsons stopped short of committing to implement all the recommendations in the report.
He said the department has to work with other areas of government first.
