A group of gender-based violence support organizations are calling on Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston to remove a minister from his cabinet after the MLA chose not to resign amid backlash related to music released over a decade ago.
Energy Minister Marco MacLeod, the Progressive Conservative MLA for Pictou West, has faced scrutiny over a track from a rap album he released in 2013. Members of the community have criticized the lyrics in one song, titled Meadowville, which they say make derogatory references to women and include mentions of illegal drugs.
“We note that the PC Caucus Office’s response to date called it ‘regrettably some bad language’ but this does not reflect the seriousness of the content, or acknowledge that this type of language is what contributes to violence against women and gender-diverse people across this province every day,” an open letter from the eight advocacy organizations stated.
The consortium said it is not convinced MacLeod “fully understands” the repercussions of the lyrics within the broader context of gender-based violence in the province.
The lyrics were first reported on by Frank Magazine earlier this month.
Following backlash on social media, Halifax’s Adsum House, a shelter for women, gender-diverse people and families, called for MacLeod’s resignation.
MacLeod responded with a handwritten note posted to social media that said he accepted “full responsibility” for the lyrics.
Days later he offered an emotional apology in front of reporters following a cabinet meeting in Halifax.
But the group of organizations said that action needs to come in the form of exiting cabinet.
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“I think he’s genuinely sorry that it happened. I think it’s largely he’s sorry that it’s put him in this predicament as opposed to fully understanding why it is so significant,” said Cynthia Pilichos, a member of the group Anglicans Powering Potential and one of the signatories on the letter.
While she said she appreciates MacLeod’s apology, she said there is no understanding of the “true implications” of the lyrics.
“It’s the same way as so many misogynist and sexist statements. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean anything, but it’s just a joke,’” Pilichos said.
A spokesperson for the PC caucus told Global News MacLeod has been contacting organizations to continue the conversations around gender-based violence, stating the minister has shown the lyrics “do not reflect the standards he holds himself to today.”
“There is no place for misogyny in Nova Scotia, and Marco is committed to ensuring his work as both an MLA and Minister demonstrates the inclusivity and respect Nova Scotians rightly expect,” the spokesperson said.
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The concern is that the lyrics speak to Macleod’s character, according to Lori Turnbull, political science professor at Dalhousie University, told Global News.
“This one is hard, I think, to justify for a minister because it’s out there, it’s in public, it’s on recording,” she said.
While Turnbull recognized that anyone’s past can be dug up on social media, she said this particular case is critical because it contradicts the government’s stance on gender-based violence.
“I think it’s a political liability,” she said.
Nova Scotia declared gender-based violence an epidemic in 2024, following through on a recommendation from the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that left 22 people plus the shooter dead in Nova Scotia, beginning with the assault gunman’s common-law spouse, who survived the attack.
Turnbull said she does not believe MacLeod needs to retire from politics entirely, but that resigning from his cabinet position could help show his constituents he understands the seriousness of the situation.
But Turnbull said the onus also falls on the premier who needs to ensure MacLeod is all in on the energy file.
“You need to have somebody who’s in that role, who can speak to stakeholders and constituents and other energy ministers in different parts of the country,” she said, adding if MacLeod were to meet with federal energy minister Tim Hodgson he’d have a “cloud over his head.”
“If Houston doesn’t want to fire him, I think he has to come out and say why he’s not,” she said.
The group of organizations is also calling on the PC government to commit to a public review of the standards applied to cabinet appointments and to gender-based violence training for all members.
To me it sounds like people are crying over something that happened over 10 years ago because they didn’t feel like they had enough to cry over before. This is a HUGE nothing burger. You call for resignation over a song from 13 years ago. Really? They wouldn’t say or think the same thing if he made a song about being any of the things these clowns claim they are.
A bunch of hollier then thou 2 faced bastards!Why do u pay any attention to anything these people say!This country is getting redder each day!Time for a turn around me thinks!
He should never have apologized
Perhaps the issue here is that Marco MacLeod was not thoroughly vetted by the PC nominating committee before his name went on the ballot in the last by-election and general election in 2024. If he had been honest with the committee at that time he would have disclosed his writing of these lyrics giving the committee the opportunity to decide if local constituents in particular women would want someone who writes songs like that to represent them. No one is perfect but in this case it is Mr MacLeod who did the wrong and he should at least step away as cabinet minister and in addition take some sensitivity sessions.
As a woman, I also agree that these demands are rather ridiculous. Stay strong, minister.
What a load of hypocritical nonesense. Art is one of the few forms of expression that allows us to see who we really are as a society, to be offended and triggered and yet still grow from it.
If this is the best the NS Liberal Party can throw at the Provincial Government they are in serious trouble. I voted PC but I expect an opposition party to put its effort into meaningful debate and discourse otherwise they are nothing more than a waste of my taxes. In fact why don’t the two Liberal buffoons step down and resign so we can reopen a tourist information centre toilet.
Wonder if they where as serious when trudeau wore black face or had his encounter with the young woman or the female news reporter ?
If our former Prime Minsiter could be forgiven for his multiple blackface, so can this Minister.
The same people complaining would probably pay to see Kanye in concert.
Nobody here wants him to be removed. Only these niche organizations. He has the support of the vast majority of voters, and his government.
This is seriously all Nova Scotians can worry about right now? Some very tame decade old rap lyrics?