As we continue our remembrance of the tragedy that unfolded four years ago, this post was supposed to be about healing and hope. The individual healing, the collective healing. The profound loss complicated by trauma unlike anything we could imagine or prepare for. It penetrates deep and weighs heavily on so many hearts.
In the midst of this reflection on how we are still recovering from that shocking event, I was sidetracked.
By the cavalier and appalling comments made by Justice Minister Brad Johns. He said he didn’t agree with some of the recommendations in the Mass Casualty Commission Report, that domestic violence is not an epidemic, not “everywhere all the time,” and based on what he sees, what he hears- there are bigger issues. How tone deaf to the solemnity of the moment and the opportunity to highlight the significant efforts in progress across government to address the recommendations outlined in the report.
The Premier’s pronouncement was swift- that gender-based violence is indeed an epidemic in Nova Scotia and Canada and our government takes it extremely seriously. The backlash to Minister John’s words was equally swift, as were his apologies. But a phrase comes to mind-- when someone shows you who they are, believe them.
The Mass Casualty Commission concluded that the conditions that led to the tragic loss of 22 lives were a result in part, of “our collective, social and institutional failures to perceive and respond effectively to gender-based, intimate partner and family violence.” [1] The Justice Minister’s perceptions differ. It makes one wonder whether he has read the report, and particularly Volume 3: Violence. Or whether he listened to the roundtables, or testimony of experts linking gender-based violence to mass killings. Gender- based violence is not only of epidemic proportions, it is endemic, ubiquitous, and yes, everywhere all the time.
The words of the Minister were like ripping a bandaid off the gaping wound of thousands of women in Nova Scotia right now experiencing violence or terror at the hands of someone who professes to love them. And the children exposed to it. It dismisses their concerns, minimizes their pain and abandons their cries for justice. It seems justice for women, or justice for Indigenous missing and murdered women, or women with disabilities, or young women and girls being trafficked at the highest provincial rate in the country, is simply not as important as other forms of violence. This might also explain why the Minister has declined to entertain legislation preventing the misuse of non-disclosure agreements (NDA’s) in situations of sexual assault and harassment. NDA’s protect abusers and silence those who are victimized- for life. The Minister said it’s not a priority.
Can we chalk it up to white male privilege? Perhaps he has never met anyone or heard from survivors of the long term trauma, mental health struggles and PTSD that can be as prevalent among survivors as it is among battle-weary military personnel. If these situations are unknown to him, perhaps he is not the right person for the position of Justice Minister at this incredibly opportune time in our province to create the kind of systemic and social change the MCC envisioned. We need someone in that role who is a robust champion for implementation of the MCC recommendations and especially for those most at risk and marginalized by systems. That person does not appear to be Brad Johns. With his current views he will be a liability to authentic efforts by government to make the necessary shifts.
Back to the hope part in [an unplanned] Part 3… next week!
[1] Turning the Tide Together. Final Report of the Mass Casualty Commission. Executive Summary, page 88 (2022).