
The last candidate to run for the federal NDP in South Shore-St. Margaret's has quit the provincial party. Gordon Earle ran for the New Democrats in the riding from 2004-2011. Earle and his wife have withdrawn their membership from the party because of the provincial government's handling of abuse allegations at the Nova Scotia Home for Colored Children. In a letter, Earle says the government is taking too long to respond positively and directly to the former residents of the home and feels they are being re-victimized. He was the first black member of Parliament in Nova Scotia. Earle represented Halifax West as an MP from 1997-2000. The province announced late last week an independent panel would address the abuse allegations.