Reporters blocked from swearing-in ceremony for new Nova Scotia cabinet

Premier Tim Houston’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony for his second mandate will be a private event closed to reporters, breaking from the long-standing tradition of media access. The provincial government cited limited capacity as the reason for the change, with only one TV network allowed to gather footage on behalf of all outlets. The event will be livestreamed for public viewing.

The ceremony, set to take place at the Halifax Convention Centre, will not accommodate reporters inside the venue. In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a similar arrangement was made for Houston’s first swearing-in ceremony, where reporters were not allowed inside the room but were provided with a separate space to watch the livestream and interview cabinet members afterward.

There have been no announcements regarding post-ceremony interviews with the new ministers this time around. Opposition leaders, such as NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette, expressed concern over the lack of media access to the event. Chender criticized the government for avoiding public scrutiny, while Mombourquette questioned the rationale behind the decision, noting that this is the first time a Nova Scotia cabinet swearing-in has been closed to media.

Both Chender and Mombourquette raised doubts about the government’s transparency and willingness to engage with the public moving forward. They believe that restricting media access to a celebratory event like the swearing-in ceremony does not bode well for the government’s approach to governance in the future.

In conclusion, the decision to exclude reporters from Premier Tim Houston’s cabinet swearing-in ceremony has raised questions about transparency and accountability within the government. It remains to be seen how this move will impact public perception and engagement with the new administration.