Speaker under fire again

Abstract

Speaker Paul MacEwan is under fire from opposition politicians in Nova Scotia - again.

Two weeks later, he wrote [Bill Gillis] to say he had a legal opinion from former chief legislative counsel Graham Walker stating that a recommendation to make the Speaker's office subject to the Freedom of Information Act was unconstitutional and "could be embarrassing to the government."

MacEwan has come under fire before for alleged bias in policing debate, for creative interpretations of the rules that favor government and for attending Liberal caucus meetings - generally considered taboo for Speakers.

Speaker Paul MacEwan is under fire from opposition politicians in Nova Scotia - again.

MacEwan's job is to be the unbiased referee of the legislature. But last spring, he was advising the Liberal government on how to keep "embarrassing" information out of the hands of political opponents and the press.

In a letter dated March 26, MacEwan advised Bill Gillis, who was justice minister at the time, to stall on an advisory committee report recommending greater access to government information.

"There would be nothing wrong with government, considering its heavy agenda, (requiring) considerable time to study the content of (the) report," the Speaker wrote.

"While the legislation . . . might not be contentious in terms of passing it through the house - the opposition being presumably in favor of such things for their own immediate self-serving political ends - I believe the long-term effects of such changes on the cause of providing good government could be very detrimental, and would urge that such legislative change not be proceeded with at this time."

MacEwan also noted the government had "an unofficial agreement that there be a moratorium on contentious legislation," and asked the justice minister for "direct and personal consultation" should changes be considered.

Two weeks later, he wrote Gillis to say he had a legal opinion from former chief legislative counsel Graham Walker stating that a recommendation to make the Speaker's office subject to the Freedom of Information Act was unconstitutional and "could be embarrassing to the government."

Asked about the letters Thursday, MacEwan said he sees nothing wrong with telling a fellow Liberal what he thinks of potential legislative change or the motives of those proposing them.

"That was my opinion," he said. "I don't apologize to anyone for having expressed it."

The Cape Breton Nova member of the legislature referred to the correspondence as "personal notes" and said they have nothing to do with his role as Speaker.

His opponents disagree.

"MacEwan has crossed the line," said New Democrat John Holm.

"The Speaker is supposed to be impartial. He has been protecting the government and this proves it."

MacEwan has come under fire before for alleged bias in policing debate, for creative interpretations of the rules that favor government and for attending Liberal caucus meetings - generally considered taboo for Speakers.

Tory critic Terry Donahoe said the Speaker is out of touch with both public opinion and his own government.

"It's almost a paranoid kind of attitude," he said of the Speaker's concern for secrecy.

"I think he's out of synch with contemporary rational thought on freedom of information and public disclosure."