A coalition for Black voices in Nova Scotia

Photo: Halifax Examiner

Since 2015, the African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition has been working on issues in the Black community, including justice, health, education, employment, and social services.

Black community reacts to the appointment of a white Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

PC MLA for Pictou Centre Pat Dunn is the newly appointed Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives. Photo: Pat Dunn / Facebook.

In the days following the Nova Scotia provincial election last month, where the Progressive Conservatives (PCs) won a majority government but failed to elect any Black MLAs, the Halifax Examiner was the first to pose the question: Who will be the next minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs?

On Tuesday, that question was answered when Pat Dunn, PC MLA for Pictou Centre, who is white, was announced as the new minister for both African Nova Scotian Affairs and the brand-new Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives. Dunn replaces Liberal MLA for Cole Harbour, Tony Ince, who is Black.