Smith-McCrossin withdraws legal challenge of motion

CITYnews halifax / By Dan Ahlstrand

The independent MLA for Cumberland North says she has dropped a legal challenge against the Tim Houston government over a motion that would have seen her removed from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

In a post to her social media, Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin said that in light of the announcement of the decision that House speaker Karla McFarlane was resigning, the motion can now only be brought forward with the unanimous consent of the House, and for that reason, Smith-MsCrossin said she decided to withdraw her court challenge.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 10, 2024
AMHERST, NS – Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin has withdrawn her legal action against the PC government in which she challenged the constitutionality of a Notice of Motion the government had introduced calling for her removal…

— Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin (@NovaScotiaESM) April 10, 2024

Back in April of last year, Smith-McCrossin challenged the constitutionality of the motion, introduced by McFarlane while serving as Minister of Community Services,  that called for her to retract statements made a month earlier while debating the use of non-disclosure agreements by political parties in cases of sexual assault.

McFarlane announced last week that she was retiring from politics.