N.S. NDP party whip removed over social media post calling for 'France-style riots'

Nova Scotia New Democrat Paul Wozney, who was the party’s caucus whip, has been removed from the role after the Conservative government condemned a social media post he shared as a call for “France-style riots in Nova Scotia and Canada.”

In a since-deleted Facebook post on Wozney’s personal account, the NDP politician concluded: “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.”

The Conservatives urged NDP Leader Claudia Chender to take action.

“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,” the Conservative caucus said wrote in a statement on Wednesday, in reference to Wozney’s post.

In a statement shared with National Post, the NDP leader confirmed Wozney was removed as party whip, adding that the party “unequivocally denounces violence or the suggestion of violence in civic life.”

Wozney’s post was critical of a $470-million settlement over the wage restraint Bill 148. A Nova Scotia court in February ruled the legislation passed in 2015 was unconstitutional and awarded compensation to affected public-sector workers.

Wozney called it a “symbolic win” but said the remedy means that more than 80,000 Nova Scotia workers affected by the bill “are diminished financially for a lifetime, including every single day of their lives in retirement. That doesn’t look or feel like justice for them.”

As party whip , Wozney was charged with keeping party members informed about House business and ensuring attendance in the House or in committee.

The MLA for Sackville-Cobequid, Wozney is also the party’s critic for ethics and accountability, labour, education, advanced education and the Public Service Commission.

“I understand that as an elected official my words really matter and that’s why I’ve removed the post,” said Wozney in a statement.

“I want to be clear that I did not intend to encourage or condone violence in any way — that is never acceptable.”

Damian Stoilov, a Conservative MLA for Bedford South, called the post “outrageous” and said that Wozney was 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.”

Protests in France were sparked by students upset over the horrible conditions of schools, lack of resources and no consistency when it came to teachers. Hundreds of thousands of people have joined in on the protests across the country since September.

They have taken a turn from peaceful to chaotic , with additional groups taking part, including those who are angry about the cost of living, the environment and other causes.

Schools have been ransacked and burned, cars have been set on fire, and riot police have taken to the streets to disperse crowds that have been looting from stores . There have been more than a thousand arrests and hundreds injured, including a teen who had his hand blown off after grabbing a stun grenade thrown by officers.

Chender said that Wozney apologized and “acknowledges the harm that he has caused.”

“In the last year, we’ve seen the government forced to walk back some of their cruellest cuts when Nova Scotians spoke up, protested responsibly and treated one another with respect,” said Wozney in his statement.

“These are the actions I support and wanted to encourage but my comments were careless and I apologize for the harm and distress they have caused.”

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