Opposition leaders are calling for provincial Justice Minister Brad Johns to resign after he denied Thursday that gender-based violence is epidemic.
Johns acknowledged that advocacy groups would disagree with his stance. Though he said it’s a serious issue, he also said there are other issues that are more important. Premier Tim Houston later appeared via video conference, trying to clarify the minister’s comments. He emphasized that the government takes domestic violence very seriously and that gender-based violence is an epidemic,
NDP Leader Claudia Chender credited the premier for attempting to clarify Johns' comments but called for Johns’ resignation. She said as the minister of justice and attorney general he plays a key role in implementing the report’s recommendations — but his comments show that he can’t be trusted to fulfil that duty. Nor, she said, is he fit to lead the department.