The Nova Scotia Liberals say it’s time former residents of the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children have their voices heard.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil says his party’s call for a public inquiry into allegations of sexual and physical abuse at the home is even stronger now that RCMP have announced criminal charges won’t be laid.

McNeil was joined by two former residents at a news conference Thursday morning as he renewed calls for government action.

“This isn’t to lay blame. Quite frankly, there’s enough blame to go around,” says McNeil. “People turned their backs, political parties…but what’s important today is that the present government has the chance to right the wrong.”

“That’s the very same thing that comes out all the time and echoes,” says former resident Tony Smith. “There was an injustice, what was done to me was wrong, somebody has to ask that, I need my apology. So there’s vindication, and it means a lot to everybody.”

McNeil says this won’t become an election issue, saying it’s simply a moral one, but he says he would call an inquiry if elected premier in the next provincial election.