HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — A Nova Scotia constituency assistant is advocating for government funding of a second employee at legislators’ offices to address the aggression front-line workers face at politicians’ workplaces. Kelly Gomes, who has worked as a constituency assistant for four years, experienced a violent attack when a man entered her office on Dec. 14 and held her by the throat against a hallway wall. The presence of a teenage student doing a work term at the office of Brendan Maguire, the Liberal member of the legislature for Halifax Atlantic, may have prevented further harm.
The assailant released Gomes after the student threatened to call the police, but not before causing significant damage to the office. Gomes believes that neither door locks nor panic buttons can adequately protect constituency assistants in these situations, advocating for the province to fund a second worker in the offices of all 55 members. Derek Mombourquette, the Liberal Party’s house leader, plans to present his party’s position on added funding to the legislature’s management commission on Jan. 24, addressing the major workload increases and rising safety risks faced by constituency assistants.
Instances of aggression and violence in provincial constituency offices have been reported in other parts of Canada in recent years, prompting discussions on the need for additional safety measures. The Speaker’s office in Nova Scotia has estimated the annual cost for a second staff person in all 55 constituency offices to be between $4 million and $4.5 million per year. While some government officials express concerns about the financial optics of providing additional funding for extra help, others believe this investment is necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of workers.
The need for increased safety measures in constituency offices is a pressing issue that has gained attention across Canada. This report highlights the urgency of addressing these safety concerns and the potential impact of providing additional funding to ensure the safety of front-line workers. The safety and well-being of constituency assistants should be a top priority for government officials, and the decision on additional funding will have far-reaching implications for the safety and security of these workers.