Misogyny in Nova Scotia Politics Still Goes Unpunished
And Everyone Knows It
Misogyny in politics isn’t new. It’s also not rare. But perhaps the most exhausting part is how often it leads to absolutely nothing — no consequences, no accountability, and certainly no reckoning.
In Canadian political culture, people who harass, intimidate, or demean women rarely disappear. Instead, they resurface. They become “consultants.” They get public contracts. They stay close to power. The people who speak up — almost always women — are the ones who vanish.
Take the case of Stephen Tobin.
In 2021, former Nova Scotia Liberal MLA Margaret Miller alleged that Tobin, then working in Premier Iain Rankin’s office, engaged in “harassment and misogynistic behaviour.” She said she brought her concerns forward multiple times — and was ignored. Eventually, she resigned her seat altogether, calling Tobin’s continued influence one of the reasons she could no longer stay [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/iain-rankin-margaret-miller-stephen-tobin-workplace-behaviour-1.6024452] and [https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/mla-miller-confirms-decision-to-resign-seat-june-1-because-of-premiers-office-appointee-100586332].
Tobin, notably, did not leave.
This wasn't his first controversy. Back in 2013, Tobin was the public face of an effort to bring singer Chris Brown — who had pleaded guilty to felony assault — to perform in Halifax. When faced with backlash, Tobin defended the concert and dismissed criticism as “personal opinion” [https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2013/07/15/promoter-defends-decision-to-have-chris-brown-headline-concert-in-halifax/].
In 2022, he was accused of involvement in an effort to sabotage the Nova Scotia Liberal Party’s AGM. He denied it — and said he wanted nothing to do with the party [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/liberal-party-agm-politics-1.6372385].
And yet, here we are in 2025, and Tobin is still collecting payments from high-profile Liberals.
Public expense disclosures show that Nova Scotia Liberal interim leader Derek Mombourquette paid $3,500 in March to Surge Communications — Tobin’s firm [https://nslegislature.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/login/public/May2025expenses.htm?20250620]. The expense category? “Website.”
The problem? There’s no actual website.
Mombourquette has no public-facing website under mombourquette.ca, and the domain hosts no content. His only visible online presence is a Facebook page and a generic email: info@mombourquette.ca. The site allegedly purchased with public funds doesn’t appear to exist.
Tobin’s firm, Surge Communications, continues to operate at [https://www.surgecomms.ca/].
He’s also been hired by federal Liberal MP Kody Blois, who is paying Tobin — or his company — $6,000 a month for “communications officer” services [https://www.ourcommons.ca/proactivedisclosure/en/members/contract/2025/4/83067f6a-f04a-4b3c-a851-b08d250786b0]. None of Blois’s Nova Scotia colleagues appear to have similar high-value communications contracts.
This kind of story isn’t rare — and that’s the problem.
Political parties are quick to say they support women. They issue statements about zero tolerance. They release equity frameworks. But behind closed doors, it’s business as usual. Men accused of harmful behaviour stay close to the action. They are never too far from a contract, a consultant gig, a whisper campaign.
Meanwhile, women who speak up are often gone from public life. There are no headlines about their comeback.
This isn’t just a Liberal problem, or a Nova Scotia problem. It’s a Canadian political culture problem. One where values are optional, accountability is negotiable, and misogyny is something to manage — not confront.
Until parties stop enabling it, and until public money stops going to people with these track records, nothing changes.
Because right now, everyone knows misogyny in politics goes unpunished.
And worse — it’s not even surprising anymore.