Nova Scotia·NewThe Nova Scotia Legislature now has its own security team, a move that ends a years-long arrangement that saw the duties filled by officers from Halifax Regional Police picking up overtime shifts.Team also tasked with enhanced security for MLA officesMichael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Sep 07, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoSecurity for legislative committee meetings and when MLAs are at Province House will now be provided by a four-person enforcement team. (CBC / Radio-Canada)The Nova Scotia Legislature now has its own security team.The move ends an arrangement that saw the duties filled by officers from Halifax Regional Police working overtime shifts.For years, members of HRP would work at Province House during sittings as part of the extra duty program, which pays double time plus an administrative fee. Now, security at Province House during sittings and legislative committee meetings will be provided by members of a four-person team of government enforcement agents.”The intention of this team is really to extend that support outside of this House,” Charcy Marchand, director of public safety and policing and chief firearms officer for the province’s Justice Department, said in an interview.Along with their duties at the House, team members will conduct security monitoring, risk assessments and provide security advice at MLA constituency offices and government offices.Heightened security concernsMarchand said the decision stems from an increasing number of threats to elected and senior government officials in recent years.Two years ago, a violent assault took place against a staff member at the constituency office of Halifax Atlantic MLA Brendan Maguire, prompting elected officials to debate whether to increase constituency budgets to cover additional security measures. MLA staffers recount harrowing tales of working alone Ultimately, Progressive Conservative MLAs were unmoved by that argument before supporting a call to examine whether security costs should be removed from the responsibility of MLA budgets.Special constablesThe budget for the new enforcement team, which falls under the Justice Department, is $907,000 and was approved as part of the 2025-26 provincial budget.The money includes salaries, kit and clothing, travel costs related to visiting constituency offices, IT requirements and staff training and development.Marchard said the four people, who are full-time employees of the Justice Department, are all retired members of the RCMP or municipal police forces and were hired through a department-run competition. They’re appointed as special constables under the Police Act, which means they’re licensed to carry firearms and other intermediate weapons.The enforcement team’s jurisdiction at the legislature does not extend beyond the downtown Halifax property, although their jobs will also include enforcement for the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, a program that targets illegal activity in residential and commercial buildings.ABOUT THE AUTHORMichael Gorman covers the Nova Scotia legislature for CBC, with additional focuses on health care and rural communities. Contact him with story ideas at michael.gorman@cbc.ca
New enforcement team replaces police officers at Province House
