Bill No. 1 - Police Identity Management Act. - 2nd Reading

CLAUDIA CHENDER: Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise and say a very few words about this bill. We do also look forward to hearing from Nova Scotians at Law Amendments. As my colleague from Queens-Shelburne pointed out, this is the first time, almost a year later, that we are able to discuss this tragedy in this House.

This bill makes sense. I would say it is a common-sense bill. Our caucus will be supporting it. But to the issue of public safety, I think there is so much more discussion to be had in tandem with the inquiry that will be taking place around the multi‑faceted ways in which the very notion of public safety failed on that night. One of them is the support we give to women who are facing domestic violence and the astonishing statistics around situations of domestic violence; how they spiral out of control and women are not believed.

That is a huge part of this inquiry. It is one that we fought to have included. It is one that we are glad to see included. It doesn’t form a part of this bill, but it absolutely forms a part of the conversation and we hope to see more legislative action and policy work forthcoming.

With those few remarks - I am looking forward to hearing from Nova Scotians in Law Amendments - I will take my seat.