Nova Scotia government denies access to media covering cabinet swearing-in

Changing a longstanding policy, the Nova Scotia government prevented journalists from attending a swearing-in ceremony for cabinet ministers. 

In a press release, the government said that journalists would not be allowed to attend because of limited capacity at the event, which was held inside the Halifax Convention Centre. Instead, the government announced that the event would be livestreamed, and that a single TV pool camera would be allowed. 

CBC Nova Scotia reported that the 2024 swearing-in was “the first time in anyone’s memory that reporters were not permitted to attend.” The room in which the 2021 swearing-in ceremony was held was also closed to journalists because of COVID-19 public health restrictions, but other accommodations were made: journalists watched a livestream in another room in the building, and were able to interview the premier and ministers immediately after the event. 

The premier and ministers did not speak with journalists after the swearing-in, which was also a change from previous years, according to CBC. 

“You have lots of access,” N.S. Premier Tim Houston told journalists outside of the event, reported CBC.