Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil is extending Andrew Younger’s temporary leave from cabinet, as well as suspending his ministerial pay.
McNeil said Wednesday that the length of the extension is undetermined. He granted Younger’s request for a temporary leave from cabinet to deal with personal matters on Dec. 23.
He said he doesn't know the details of the personal matters that have sidelined Younger and it wasn't clear how much time Younger would need when he initially asked for leave.
"We really did not know the extent of time," McNeil said. "It's become obvious that that will be an extended period of time, so we made it clear to him that it would be an indefinite leave and it will be without pay."
Sources said there may be a connection between Younger’s temporary leave and assault charges laid against a former Liberal caucus worker.
Halifax Regional Police began an investigation on Nov. 6 into threats made against Younger and, as a result, began a second, unrelated investigation on Nov. 19.
Tara Gault, a policy analyst and researcher for the Liberal caucus between 2008 and 2011, was arrested a month later and served with a promise to appear on a single charge of common assault.
Gault’s time working for the Liberals ended in 2011 when she left to study law at Dalhousie University. For some of that time, Younger was an Opposition MLA, with his office in the same building.
The incident in question is alleged to have taken place in Halifax on Oct. 22, 2013, after the new Liberal government had been sworn in at Annapolis Royal.
However, Halifax Regional Police Const. Pierre Bourdages said the alleged victim did not file a complaint.
“In this case, the information came to police through another investigation. It did not come through the victim,” he said.
Younger was initially granted a temporary leave with ministerial pay, raising questions among the Opposition.
However, McNeil said Wednesday that Younger’s ministerial pay will be suspended as his leave is extended.
Younger issued a statement after McNeil's announcement, saying he met with the premier and chief of staff earlier Wednesday to discuss the matter.
"I understand the issue of pay has become a distraction for the premier and our government," Younger said.
He also took issue with the media reports about the alleged assault.
"A significant portion of the information reported as fact in the news and social media about the incident police allege to have occurred against me has been inaccurate and speculative, which is unfair to all those involved in this matter and those close to them," he said.
Younger didn't offer specifics about the inaccuracies and said he doesn't plan to comment further.
Opposition Leader Jamie Baillie said the Premier has an obligation to find out why Younger sought a leave of absence, and that he must explain to voters and taxpayers why Younger is not fulfilling his public duties.
“This is one of those times when people watching get the impression there are different rules for people in politics, that there’s something special about being a politician that means you have your own set of rules.”
Michel Samson, the economic development and tourism minister, has assumed Younger's cabinet portfolios in the meantime but is not receiving additional pay.
A member of the legislature makes a base salary of about $89,000 a year, and a cabinet minister gets an additional $49,000 a year.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Rick Grant and The Canadian Press
