The Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislature has reopened the House to the public after restricting access last week because of a protest in the gallery that halted a vote on the budget.

Speaker Danielle Barkhouse announced the reopening in the chamber Thursday following question period, saying the shutdown was the most difficult decision she’s had to make since she took the role in 2024.

“Open parliaments are an important part of our way of life. We want the public to feel welcome here and to be able to watch the work of their elected representatives,” she said.

But Barkhouse added there are limits on how people can voice their opinions within the walls of the House — specifically, their actions cannot prevent MLAs from speaking or voting.

“On the night of March 24, the demonstrators in the galleries — irrespective of whether you supported or opposed their cause — prevented the House from conducting its business, and took away the voice of the elected members, the voice of this province.”

Barkhouse said people who were in the public galleries during the protest are still not allowed back as an investigation continues to identify them all. She has said some of the protesters may be permanently banned based on their conduct. 

House business stopped near midnight last Tuesday when protesters started singing. MLAs were about to make a final vote on the Progressive Conservatives’ controversial budget.

Some protesters escalated to jeering at MLAs in the chamber, and the Speaker said one MLA reported to her that they were blocked while trying to drive out of the Province House parking lot.

“There will be no consequences for visitors who obeyed the rules,” Barkhouse said.

The second floor of the House remains closed to visitors, as it has been since earlier in the session. That restriction came into effect following several protests and a heated conversation between a cabinet minister and a group of visitors just outside the legislative library.

Barkhouse introduced several new rules that will be in effect for the rest of the session. No one can sit in the front row of public galleries, visitors cannot take cellphones out of their bags or pockets, and they cannot read, write, sketch or speak during debates. She also clarified that people cannot wear any clothing with text that can be read from the floor of the chamber.

Barkhouse said the rules are meant to prevent MLAs from being distracted. She said the rules will be reviewed after the House rises.

“I’m going to strike a committee over security and do a jurisdictional scan over galleries within the country and work from there with the group,” she told reporters.

Membership on the committee has not been determined. Barkhouse said she has not decided if it will include MLAs; she said she would like it to include security professionals.

Opposition leaders said the House should not have been closed as long as it was and they’re glad the public can return.

But NDP Leader Claudia Chender said visitors should be able to move freely, without any remaining restrictions. She said she does not understand the need for all the new rules, pointing specifically to the restriction on sketching.

However, she said she welcomes the clarification on clothing with messages, which she said was previously applied selectively, leading some people to feel profiled.

“One rule that’s enforced across the board is a good thing,” she said.

Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said he’d like to see Province House rules align with House of Commons rules.

Both opposition leaders said the Speaker’s new committee should include MLAs from both sides of the floor.

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