Minister should apologize for “business as usual” comment
Submitted by communications on Thu, 2010-09-09 17:53
Sep 09 2010

Dartmouth – Newly appointed PC Justice Critic Cecil Clarke is calling on Justice Minister Ross Landry to immediately apologize to a correctional officer for comments he made two days ago about the vicious beating she took at the Central Nova Correctional facility.

“To hear the minister make such a thoughtless comment in light of what happened to this dedicated correctional officer is an abhorrent display of insensitivity,” said Clarke, a former Justice Minister. “He owes the officer and all correctional officers in the province an apology.”
 
Two days ago, Landry was quoted as saying “That’s business as usual" in reference to the attack of a female correctional officer.
 
Understanding the dangerous behaviour correctional officers encounter everyday, Clarke added that the minister should not be shrugging off the incident as a simple day in the life of a correctional officer.
 
In less than one month, three guards have been viciously attacked at the facility.
 
“Could you imagine how this officer must have felt when she read his comment?”  “The minister has an obligation to demonstrate leadership and support. That kind of attitude is demoralizing and does nothing to make an already dangerous situation more manageable.”
 
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