Funding would improve workplace safety after a man was charged for assaulting worker, student volunteer in December
Nova Scotia Liberal Party house leader Derek Mombourquette will be asking for more funding to possibly hire another worker at legislators’ offices, according to a recent report.
This comes after a Nova Scotia constituency assistant called on the provincial government to approve funding for a second employee at the workplace following an incident in December.
On Dec. 14, 60-year-old constituency assistant for the MLA for Halifax Atlantic Kelly Gomes and a teenage student doing a work term there fell victims to assault in the workplace.
On that day, a man – whom Kelly had assisted for four years – entered her constituency office and held her by the throat against a hallway wall, according to a report from The Canadian Press posted on Global News.
"I could do nothing. I didn't have my phone. I was halfway down the hallway and pinned up against the wall,” she said, according to a CBC report.
She says things “could have ended very badly” if it hadn’t been for the presence of a teenage student volunteer who was doing a work term at the office of Brendan Maguire, the Liberal member of the legislature for Halifax Atlantic, according to The Canadian Press report.
"If she wasn't here, I don't know what would have happened. She was able to call the police," said Gomes in the CBC story. "I think what really saved me, this time, is having the student in the office."
Gomes was able to break free from the man when her attacker went after the teen. Gomes then grabbed his arm before she and the student then ran into Maguire’s office. She said there was no lock on the office door.
The man then turned his attention to the office, throwing an air purifier, knocking over a Christmas tree, smashing pictures and upending a desk before departing. Then, he left.
The 47-year-old man has been charged for the assault, according to a previous CBC report.
Previous cases of violence at the workplace
Vicki Brooke, a former constituency assistant at the workplace, thinks having two is a good idea, as she herself had some harrowing experiences while working part-time for nearly a year and a half at the Elmsdale office of Margaret Miller, according to the CBC report.
Miller was MLA for Hants East from 2013-2021 and served as a cabinet minister.
There was a time when a man threatened to "exact some justice on government through the MLA's office”.
"On the RCMP's advice, I ended up locking up the office one day, and hiding under the MLA's desk, in her back office," said Brooke in the report.
"It turned out this gentleman was waiting for me and or somebody to leave the office and he was hiding behind our office building with a hammer or a mallet. I remember being terrified."
She also recounted when a man suddenly tore the phone from its landline connection and wouldn't let her leave the office, according to the report.
‘Less costly ways’ of ensuring workplace safety
The Nova Scotia government, however, is not eager to provide more budget so the constituency officers can hire a second worker, according to the CBC report.
"A number of recommendations by security staff have been brought forward that can be implemented within current budget allocations," John White, deputy house leader, said in a statement, according to the report.
"We encourage all MLAs to make sure they are using the resources that are currently available within their constituency office budget."
He added: "There's no question having more than one person would make things safer, but there's also other ways you can make an office safer, and probably a lot less costly ways."
