In unusual move, N.S. premier distances himself from Speaker over COVID-19 warning

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston fields a question at a meeting of the Council of Atlantic Premiers in Halifax on Monday, March 21, 2022. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)

HALIFAX -

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is distancing himself and his government from a decision by the Speaker to issue a COVID-19 exposure notice at the legislature over the weekend.

In an unusual move, Houston tweeted on Monday that the decision to issue the notice and close the building to the public was made by Speaker Keith Bain alone.

The premier was reacting to a memo circulated to members of the legislature on Saturday by the Speaker, warning of a COVID-19 exposure inside the building.

Critics of the memo took to social media to complain of a double standard, because the province had stopped issuing COVID-19 exposure notifications to the public.

Houston says there should not be two different standards for politicians and for the public.

In an email, the Office of the Speaker says the decision to close the legislature to the public was temporary and was made to ensure the House of Assembly can "successfully fulfil its duties."

The email says that Bain, a member of the Progressive Conservatives, will not be commenting further on the matter.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 28, 2022.