A timeline of events in the case involving former Nova Scotia cabinet minister Andrew Younger.
June 2009: Andrew Younger is elected as MLA for Dartmouth East.
Oct. 22, 2013: Andrew Younger is re-elected as MLA for Dartmouth East.
Nov. 6, 2014: Halifax Regional Police launch an investigation into alleged threats against Andrew Younger.
December 2014: Tara Gault, a former Liberal staffer, is arrested and charged with assault in relation to an incident alleged to have taken place on or around Oct. 22.
Dec. 23, 2014: Nova Scotia government issues press release, saying Andrew Younger has requested a leave of absence from cabinet for “personal reasons.” His cabinet responsibilities are taken over by Michel Samson.
Feb. 12, 2015: A conversation between Andrew Younger and Kirby McVicar, the premier’s chief of staff, takes place at Younger’s constituency office. Younger is secretly recording the conversation.
March 18, 2015: Tara Gault pleads not guilty in the assault case involving Andrew Younger.
March 24, 2015: Andrew Younger resigns his post as Minister of Energy. Younger says the court case has not played a role in his decision. Premier Stephen McNeil says he did not ask for Younger’s resignation.
March 24, 2015: Michel Samson is sworn in as Minister of Energy.
July 24, 2015: Andrew Younger is named Minister of Environment.
Nov. 4, 2015: Scheduled court date for the assault trial of Tara Gault. Andrew Younger fails to appear in court, citing parliamentary privilege, and the judge dismisses the case.
Nov. 5, 2015: Andrew Younger is dismissed from cabinet and kicked out of the Liberal caucus
Nov. 13, 2015: Andrew Younger releases a two-minute recording to the media. On the tape, which was made in February, Younger and McVicar can be heard discussing Younger’s possible return to cabinet.
Nov. 19, 2015: Premier’s office receives an anonymous letter and a second piece of the recorded conversation between Andrew Younger and Kirby McVicar. Letter and recording are handed over to the RCMP and the media. A unanimous motion is passed in the House compelling Younger to hand over the full recording by noon on Nov. 20.
Nov. 20, 2015: Younger swears a legal oath, stating that to the best of his knowledge, the recording does not exist. The Speaker issues a warrant, compelling Younger to hand over the recording by noon on Nov. 23, or face censure in the House.
Nov. 23, 2015: Andrew Younger hands over a 12-minute recording of the conversation between himself and Kirby McVicar to the Chief Clerk of the Legislature. Younger says he found the recording on a Cloud server, and the Speaker’s office says this satisfies the terms of the warrant against him.
Nov. 24, 2015: Andrew Younger files a complaint with the province’s Freedom of Information office over the disclosure of personal health information. Premier Stephen McNeil announces he has accepted the resignation of his chief of staff, Kirby McVicar.
