N.S. MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin removed from PC Caucus after encouraging blockade
The leader of Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservative Party has officially removed an MLA from the PC caucus, after she encouraged a protest that blocked the Trans-Canada Highway near Thomson Station, N.S.
In a statement issued Thursday morning, Nova Scotia PC leader Tim Houston announced that Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, the MLA representing Cumberland North, has been removed from the PC caucus and will not be permitted to run as a PC in the future.
“I appreciate her frustration and the frustration of everyone affected by the Premier's 11th hour changes,” said Houston in a release. “These changes are a gut punch to people and to businesses in Nova Scotia. As a Caucus, we are focused on holding the Premier to account for his decisions but Ms. Smith-McCrossin’s failure to accept accountability for her actions at the blockade shows a lack of judgment and personal responsibility.”
The decision comes after Smith-McCrossin encouraged people to join in a protest to travel restrictions imposed by Nova Scotia on travellers coming from New Brunswick.
In a video posted to Facebook on Tuesday afternoon, Smith-McCrossin encouraged people to join the protest to shut down the Trans-Canada Highway, until Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin opened the border to travellers from New Brunswick.
"People that hadn't seen their family since November were planning on seeing them tomorrow in fact some people went today thinking that they'll be able to come home tomorrow without having to self-isolate," Smith-McCrossin said at the protest.
The protest, which began Tuesday afternoon, led to a blockade of the Trans-Canada Highway at the border, causing a halt to cross-border traffic for more than 24 hours, with vehicles and protesters blocking the east and westbound lanes near the Nova Scotia Visitor's Centre.
The blockade was opened to traffic as of 10 p.m. Wednesday, after three protesters were arrested by RCMP.
Houston says the decision was made Wednesday night following a virtual meeting with the party, and that he has “full support” of the PC Caucus in removing Smith-McCrossin.
“As colleagues for the past four years, I owed her an opportunity to explain her actions, and the efforts she took to conceal those actions from her Caucus colleagues. Unfortunately, Ms. Smith-McCrossin refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing and - when explicitly asked by her Caucus - refused to apologize to Nova Scotians,” continued Houston. “I want to make clear to the people of Nova Scotia that I am committed to doing the right thing even if there is a cost. That is my commitment to the people of this province."
Houston said the Smith-McCrossin took the wrong approach.
"The blockade was not appropriate and it distracted from holding the government to account," Houston said.
In a statement posted to her Facebook page Thursday, Smith-McCrossin said she was disappointed in Houston’s decision and will “take some time to reflect with my family, my constituents and my supporters on what I will do next in politics”.
“I will never apologize for doing my job to represent my constituents,” wrote Smith-McCrossin in the post. “As PC leader, Mr. Houston has every right to change his mind after he previously supported me. He told me he wished he hadn’t said what he did in the media in support of me. Again, I respect Mr. Houston’s right to change his mind. But my conscience will not allow me to sacrifice fighting for my constituents, the job I was sent to do in 2017, to comply with a party leader, just because he changed his mind.”
According to her profile on the Nova Scotia Legislature website, Smith-McCrossin was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly as MLA for Cumberland North in 2017, and served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, as well as a member of the Law Amendments and Private and Local Bills Committees.
Smith-McCrossin’s profile also says she is also a small business owner and worked as a registered nurse for 27 years.
Dwayne Ripley, who was one of the protesters, said the protest goes beyond Smith-McCrossin.
"This is a people movement," Ripley said. "This has nothing to do with one individual person and if everyone wants to criticize her and throw her to the Wolves, she’s going to take it on the chin."
Meanwhile, on the New Brunswick side of the border, things were running smoothly with respect to traffic after a frustrating day on Wednesday.
"I understand how some things aren’t working the way people wanted them to, but I at least want to be able to get across the border and do my work and come back without having to stop," said said trucker Phillip Anthony.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Weather alerts issued for 7 provinces, 1 territory
Warnings of up to 60 millimetres of rain and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces and one territory ahead of the Easter weekend.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
OPP seize $7.5 million worth of drugs in eastern Ontario
The Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police says one person is facing multiple charges after a traffic complaint on Highway 17 in Head Clara Maria Township.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Why Kim Kardashian is being sued for 'knockoff' furniture
The estate of minimalist contemporary artist Donald Judd filed a lawsuit against Kardashian this week, claiming the fashion and beauty mogul promoted 'cheap knockoffs' of his furniture designs.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.