Families of men who died outside Halifax bars blast government for ‘lack of accountability’

The tragic deaths of Stephen Giffin and Ryan Sawyer outside Halifax bars have sparked outrage from their families, who are criticizing Nova Scotia legislators for failing to enact potentially lifesaving rules. Theresa Giffin and Lee Sawyer appeared before the legislature’s standing committee on public bills to express their concerns about a government bill that could repeal legislation designed to prevent future tragedies.

Giffin’s brother, Stephen, was killed by bouncers outside a downtown bar in 1999. The Giffin family advocated for the Security and Investigative Services Act (SISA), which was passed in 2010 but never proclaimed into law. The bill would have required background checks, training, and licensing for all bouncers and security officials working at bars and lounges in the province.

Now, the Progressive Conservative government has introduced Bill 21, the Justice Administration Amendment Act, which would automatically repeal any legislation that has been passed but not proclaimed after a decade. This move could wipe out SISA altogether, much to the dismay of the families of the victims.

Theresa Giffin highlighted the government’s lack of intention to enforce SISA and warned that the passage of Bill 21 could permanently repeal the legislation. She urged MLAs to reconsider and prevent the automatic repeal of unproclaimed laws.

The recent changes announced by the government in response to Ryan Sawyer’s death were deemed insufficient by the families. While some regulatory changes were made for bars with cabaret licenses, they are not legally binding and do not apply to all bars and lounges in the province.

Lee Sawyer expressed her frustration with the government’s inaction and questioned why there has been no replacement legislation or proclamation of SISA. She emphasized the lack of accountability and contrasted Nova Scotia’s situation with other provinces that have long-standing laws governing bouncers and security staff.

The families called on MLAs to amend Bill 21 to prevent the automatic repeal of unproclaimed legislation and to provide an exemption for SISA. Despite efforts by the NDP to send the bill back for further review, government MLAs pushed it through to the committee of the whole House on bills.

The families of Stephen Giffin and Ryan Sawyer are determined to see justice served and are urging legislators to prioritize the safety and security of patrons at bars and lounges in Nova Scotia. Their advocacy serves as a reminder of the importance of enacting and enforcing laws that can prevent senseless tragedies like the ones they have endured.