NDP Leader Claudia Chender needs to hold one of her MLAs accountable for calling for France-style riots in Nova Scotia and Canada.
The riots in France have led to a curfew being issued in Paris and French police have estimated that 3,000 businesses and public buildings have been damaged or looted. Residents described the aftermath like they just had a war.
In a social media post yesterday in response to a remedy on Bill 148, Sackville-Cobequid NDP MLA Paul Wozney said: “Don’t leave it to the courts. Learn from France. Own the streets. Shut government down. Grind the province/country to a halt… It’s the only ‘direct’ line to worker justice."
MLA Damian Stoilov said it’s outrageous to have an Official Opposition MLA call for violence and anarchy. Wozney is the NDP critic for Ethics and Accountability, Education, Labour, Public Service Commission and Advanced Education as well as the NDP Caucus Whip.
“Paul Wozney is saying if Nova Scotians disagree on something, they should mimic riots in France where thousands of shops were looted and buildings burned to the ground,” said MLA Stoilov. “Ms. Chender needs to send a message that her party opposes violent rhetoric by removing Mr. Wozney from his critic roles and as Caucus whip, and announce what other steps she will take to discipline him.”
Protests in France have become widespread and violent in recent weeks. On Monday, the Government of Canada issued a travel warning for those going to France saying that the protests resulted in “vandalism, looting, arson and violent clashes between protestors and police.” Canadians visiting France are being urged by the federal government to “exercise a high degree of caution.” MLA Stoilov said Nova Scotians will be worried that this is what Wozney and the NDP want for the province.
“Claudia Chender needs to be a leader and show that her party does not support vandalism, looting, arson and violent clashes as the answer to political disagreements,” added MLA Stoilov."