Nova Scotia premier, cabinet ministers taking questions again at Province House

Premier Tim Houston and members of his cabinet are again taking questions from reporters at the Nova Scotia Legislature.

In a break from long-standing tradition, the Progressive Conservative government started the current session by moving availability with the premier and cabinet ministers across the street to the government-controlled media room with a moderator.

Previously, reporters were free to ask questions in a common space at Province House without a moderator in scrums organized by the press gallery. Some reporters, including those from CBC, were not attending government-organized availabilities other than bill briefings and news conferences.

But following a meeting between the premier and several press gallery reporters on Thursday, Houston agreed to a return to convention.

Speaking to reporters at Province House, Houston said the initial change was intended to provide access to out-of-town reporters so they could ask questions by phone.

"For me it's always about more access to more Nova Scotians and more [media] outlets," he said.

"There's a lot of good work happening in the province, there's a lot of good work happening in the government, and for me the fact that it kind of devolved into a discussion about where the premier was taking his scrums was a disservice to Nova Scotians."

Houston said he wants to ensure reporters covering the legislature are able to do their job and he would look for other ways to continue expanding access for reporters based outside the Halifax area.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said it's important that reporters are able to tell the public about what's happening at Province House.

"This building has provided that capacity for Nova Scotians for hundreds of years and I'm glad it will continue to do so and I'm glad it will continue to do so in an accessible manner," she told reporters.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette accused the government of trying to control messaging, but he said he was glad for the reversal of course.