The Nova Scotia Liberal Party has accused former MLA Fred Tilley of improperly accessing party files a day before he crossed the floor to join the Progressive Conservatives.
Liberal president Margaret Miller stated that Tilley, who represented Northside-Westmount, allegedly accessed files containing private and sensitive party information, impacting nearly 2,500 people.
Miller described this as a “serious violation” of privacy, saying the Liberal Party will inform each affected individual of the breach.
The party has also asked the RCMP and Elections Nova Scotia to investigate the incident.
In response, Tilley denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusation a political maneuver by the Liberal leader to retaliate for his departure. He added that he’d discussed joining the PCs well before his official switch and accused the Liberal leadership of “weaponizing the justice system” to settle personal grievances. Tilley said he would fully cooperate with authorities if approached, emphasizing his intention to address the matter transparently.
Tilley was first elected in 2021 and previously served as caucus chair for the Liberals before switching allegiance. His departure has added fuel to ongoing tensions between the Liberals and PCs in Nova Scotia, highlighting fractures within the party as it navigates this high-profile political shift.
Following the announcement from Tilley that he would be crossing the floor Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill while speaking with reporters said he felt “betrayed”.
