Nova Scotia NDP MLA Paul Wozney is out as his party’s caucus whip following a social media post on Tuesday, Oct 20 where he invoked the on-going protests in France as an example of how to fight for worker’s rights.
The post, which has since been removed, provided commentary following the remedy to Bill 148.
“Don’t leave it to the courts,” wrote Wozney. “Learn from France. Own the streets. Shut government down. Grind the province/country to a halt and force the government to abandon legal legislation in the present. It’s the *only* direct line to worker justice.”
Bill 148, the Public Services Sustainability Act, instituted a non-negotiated wage pattern on the entire public sector, removed agreements ending the retirement allowance and public service award, and prohibited arbitrators in contract negotiations and disputes to award anything higher than the provincially-approved wage pattern.
Introduced by former premier Stephen McNeil’s Liberal government in 2015, the Nova Scotia Supreme Court found it to be unconstitutional after a decade of union leaders stating it limited their bargaining. A decision made on Monday by Justice Ann E. Smith will see union members receiving damages up to $5,000 as remediation.
While not explicitly mentioned by Wozney, there have also been calls for protests in the wake of Everwind’s recent data centre announcement, which you can read more about here.
Wozney’s post referenced student protests in France which reached a fever-pitch over the weekend, with reports of police violently subduing participants while others blame the protests for property damage and looting.
While the NDP blamed Houston’s PC party for the length of time it took to see remediation for Bill 148, Wozney’s post gave them ammunition to publish a press release of their own, calling his comments a “call for violence” and stating NSNDP leader Claudia Chender should remove Wozney from his critic roles and as the party’s whip. The press release quotes Bedford South MLA Damien Stoilov and was published on Wednesday, Oct 21.
A few hours later, Wozney published his own release, apologizing for the remarks and clarifying his intentions.
“I understand that as an elected official my words really matter and that’s why I’ve removed the post,” he says. “I want to be clear that I did not intend to encourage or condone violence in any way—that is never acceptable.”
Wozney adds he supports Nova Scotians’ right to protest against government legislation, referencing protests around disastrous provincial budget cuts earlier this year as an example.
In another press release from the party, Chender announced that she had spoken to Wozney and has been removed as party whip.
“The Nova Scotia NDP unequivocally denounces violence or the suggestion of violence in civic life. MLA Wozney has removed the post and apologized for his careless words. We have spoken about his serious error in judgment, and he acknowledges the harm that he has caused.”
Telling citizens to protest and take to the streets is not encouraging violence.
Protesting is legal and often necessary.
The violence happens when the crooked af cops try to shut people up.
When will people wake up.
Claudia had all my support before this decision which proves she’s just like the rest.
Wozney didn’t become an idiot yesterday either.
The NS NDP has now definitely lost me as a supporter. Yes, the NDP is the best of the lot, but it’s an awfully low bar.