Nova Scotia considers new rules for bar bouncers, justice minister says

The Nova Scotia government is considering new regulations for bouncers, according to Justice Minister Becky Druhan. It comes after some family members of loved ones who died outside bars criticized the province over accountability.

Justice Minister Becky Druhan says she’ll meet with families of men who died at Halifax bars

Josh Hoffman · CBC News · Posted: Apr 20, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: April 20

The exterior of the Halifax Alehouse seen from Prince St. in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. — Nova Scotia Justice Minister Becky Druhan said this week she will meet with the families of men who died outside Halifax bars to discuss possible new regulations for bouncers. (Dave Laughlin/CBC)

The Nova Scotia government is considering new regulations for bouncers, according to Justice Minister Becky Druhan.

It comes after some family members of loved ones who died outside bars criticized the province over accountability.

Two of those family members called out the government at Province House last month for introducing a bill that would repeal legislation that hasn't been proclaimed within a decade, including the Security and Investigative Services Act that passed in 2010.

Since the act has never been proclaimed it never took effect. It would have required all security officials working at bars and lounges in the province to have criminal background checks, training and be licensed.

"The Department of Justice and Service Nova Scotia have been working together to consider what our next steps are," said Druhan. "We will be meeting with the families."

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The province implemented changes for bouncers at late-night bars, which have cabaret licences, following the death of Ryan Sawyer outside the Halifax Alehouse in 2022. Druhan wouldn't say if the latest changes under consideration are similar to those conditions.

Family confirms meeting scheduled

Ryan Sawyer's mother, Lee, was one of the family members who spoke in front of MLAs in March.

She told MLAs at the time she can't understand why the government hasn't proclaimed the Security and Investigative Services Act or come up with a replacement.

The rules introduced after her son's death don't go far enough and only apply to a handful of bars, Sawyer said at the time.

She confirmed with CBC News she's meeting with government officials at the end of the month, but said via text message she hasn't been told what will be discussed.

Ryan and his family pose for a photo with Christmas sweaters on. — Ryan Sawyer, far left, died after an altercation with a bouncer outside the Halifax Alehouse in 2022. His mother, Lee Sawyer is shown on the far right. She criticized the province last month for not proclaiming potential life-saving legislation. (Scott and Lee Sawyer)

B.C., Alberta, Quebec and Ontario have legislation regarding bouncers and security staff.

The family of Stephen Giffin lobbied successive governments after he died after being beaten by bouncers outside a downtown bar in 1999. That effort continued until the Security and Investigative Services Act passed 11 years later.

Giffin's family said it only learned the legislation had not been proclaimed after Ryan Sawyer died under similar circumstances.

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