Achi news desk-
Brad Johns, Nova Scotia’s justice minister has resigned, according to a brief statement from Premier Tim Houston on Friday evening.
“I accepted the resignation of Brad Johns as a minister in my cabinet,” the statement read.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, the fourth anniversary of the start of the Nova Scotia mass shooting, Johns told reporters that he did not believe domestic violence was “an epidemic.”
“No, I don’t because I think epidemic … you see it everywhere all the time,” Johns said. “I don’t think that’s true. Personally, I think this is a problem and a problem.”
When pressed, he said he believed other issues were causing more problems in society such as drugs and guns.
The comments prompted an immediate backlash online and from other political leaders, who demanded Johns resign as minister. The premier tried to rectify the issue, rejoining the Zoom call, and assuring reporters that his government considers domestic violence an epidemic.
Johns formally apologized a few hours later, but anger over the comments continued in some circles on Friday.
“Your minister of justice, chief provincial law enforcement officer, and policing is a provincial responsibility. It hurts,” CTV Public Safety Analyst Chris Lewis said Friday.
“From a timing standpoint, on the anniversary of this tremendous mass shooting, the tremendous loss of life and what was really domestic violence was a huge part of that at the forefront,” Lewis said.
Friday’s statement went on to say “Domestic violence is an issue our government takes very seriously. We will continue to work with partner organizations to do everything we can to support the important work being done in response to the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report and in response to the ongoing epidemic of domestic violence across Nova Scotia and Canada.”
A spokesman for the Premier League said it would not comment further on Friday night.
