@CTVAnchor As recently as yesterday, your minister, the Attorney-General, insisted the review was a better option, the best option. You said that last week.

@StephenMcNeil "We needed a joint inquiry, Steve."

#Portapique #nspoli

Murphy: It was the federal govt. that said no? You were for it, they were against it.

Stephen McNeil: Right.

Murphy: And you didn't ask them why they were against it?

McNeil: We don't have the authority to compel people forward.

@BillBlair @JustinTrudeau @BernJordanMP

Murphy: Why did you not reveal that the federal govt. was opposed to it (public inquiry)?

McNeil: Let's be honest, Steve. This isn't about me or my government, or about the federal govt. It's about those families.

Clearly Steve, and let me be clear. Clearly we missed the mark.

Murphy: The views of the families have been known since day one. What does it say that apparently the views of a handful of Liberal MP's, are more persuasive than the views of the family members and thousands of citizens?

McNeil: Steve, that's just not accurate. #QuiteFrankly

McNeil: I made it clear last week that if the 3 panelists needed more authority, they could ask our govt. and we would deliver it to them.

(How could @nsgov have done this if, as McNeil himself has argued, the Feds weren't at the table?)

Murphy: But they didn't ask.

. @tommurphycbc The @NS_Justice Minister himself said no one asked him for a review. How do you square the fact that that's what we ended up with, at least until tonight?

McNeil: What was happening was, we were looking to answer the questions, Tom.

(References Desmond Inquiry)

Murphy: Just to remind the audience, legal scholars question your perception of the involvement of the federal govt. at the Desmond Inquiry.

McNeil: Don't take my word for it, Tom. Go read the Commissioner's opening statement on May 21.

@threadreaderapp Unroll please.