d’Entremont says Nova Scotians deserve to know their communities are safe      

It has been more than two months since the murder of community activist Raymond Taavel and Darrell Dexter's NDP government still hasn't told Nova Scotians why the East Coast Forensic Hospital patient accused of the crime was permitted an unescorted pass to leave the facility.     

Progressive Conservative health critic Chris d'Entremont today accused the Dexter government of dodging public anger and scrutiny by quickly promising an inquiry and answers, but failing to follow through.  

“The NDP promised answers but it's been more than two months and there's been no explanation about what went wrong that day at the forensic hospital and what part of the system failed,” said d’Entremont. “The NDP's inadequate response has left Nova Scotians wondering if their communities are safe.”   

On April 18th, Justice Minister Ross Landry told the Legislature that "we are going to have a statement back by 30 days from now to talk about were the policies and procedures followed, and at that point to determine if they were adequate and in what direction we need to go."  

On May 17th, when that review report was due, former Health Minister Maureen MacDonald made a shocking announcement that work had not even begun. “At no time did we indicate that a 30-day review would be completed within 30 days,” she said in the Legislature.  

Two out-of-province forensic mental health experts were hired to look into the patient's unescorted release, but d'Entremont says the NDP dragged their feet for a whole month while nothing was done.  

“The NDP's Justice Minister has misled Nova Scotians and failed to inform the public of what went wrong,” continued d’Entremont.  "Nova Scotians were told 30 days and we are past 60. It's time for answers."