It’s been a rough several days for Zach Churchill, the MLA for Yarmouth.
He’s found himself having to respond to allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
The first came from PC Leader Tim Houston, who accused Churchill of assaulting him outside of the Chamber in what’s been dubbed the ‘phone booth incident.’
https://www.cjls.com/news/843033795/churchill-says-he-did-not-assault-ho…
Then came more allegations this week by former NDP MLAs were laid out in two letters sent to Speaker Kevin Murphy, Premier Stephen McNeil, PC Leader Tim Houston and NDP Leader Gary Burrill.
The letters reference incidents that allegedly happened before the election in 2017.
One of the letters, from former NDP MLA Ramona Jennex, references an alleged altercation in 2012 in which she says Churchill “approached me when I exited the chambers and, using profane language, berated me verbally.”
The other letter, written by former NDP MLA Denis Peterson-Rafuse, claims that then-natural resources minister Churchill, came across the aisle after a heated question period, yanking her by the shoulder.
Churchill tells Acadia News he doesn’t recall either instance.
“I mean had that happened at the time that would have been a headline story and had the Premier been informed of that, I wouldn’t be around his caucus table, he would have no patience for that at all, but that didn’t happen. That’s not to say that I didn’t have conversations with both of those members that they deemed to be adversarial and inappropriate for outside the Chamber, that I’m sure has happened, that’s my style.”
He says he’s passionate about issues, like the Yarmouth ferry and sometimes he takes the debate outside of the House of Assembly and into the lunchroom or ante-chamber.
“I’ve got to recognize that not everybody is interested in continuing conversations outside of the House and I’ve got to do a better job of respecting people in that regard.”
We asked Churchill if he had a problem with his temper.
No. I like debating and I’m passionate about it. I got into this business because I like arguing issues that are important to people.”
He says he spoke with Premier McNeil Wednesday morning about the latest allegations and neither has any recollection or record of correspondence related to the accusations.
(Acadia News file photo)
story by Gary Nickerson
nickerson.gary@radioabl.ca
