Nova Scotia premier says he skipped Halifax Pride parade because of safety concerns

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says his absence from this year’s Halifax Pride parade was the result of advice from the RCMP not to participate because of safety concerns.

In an emailed statement, the premier says he was not at the parade on Saturday “out of an abundance of caution” and that the decision to skip the event doesn’t diminish his support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Nova Scotia’s Liberal, NDP and Green parties each participated with a parade float, leaving the Progressive Conservatives as the only major political party not represented at the event.

“I have always said, no matter who you are, who you love or how you identify, there is a place for you in this province and you deserve to live without fear and intimidation,” Houston said Tuesday.

The premier’s office says police recommended that Houston not participate this year out of concern for his safety and that of other participants, but the office declined to provide details about the alleged risk.

Nova Scotia RCMP spokesperson Guillaume Tremblay confirmed that police provided Houston’s office with advice, though the decision whether to attend was up to the premier. Advice provided to Houston was based on “current international events and local disruptions such as protests,” Tremblay said in an email.

He said the RCMP would have deployed the necessary resources if the premier had attended, adding that his presence could have sparked a disruption and increased “the risk to the public’s safety and to himself.”

Pride organizers warned parade float coordinators in an email on July 8 they should be prepared for the parade to be stopped by demonstrators.

“Many of you may be aware that a number of large Pride parades have been stopped or held up by Palestinian support