Nova Scotia Energy Minister Marco MacLeod has apologized for misogynistic and degrading rap lyrics he wrote and performed years ago. Yes, people can change. They can learn, grow and regret their past behaviour. But when someone holds public office, saying sorry is not enough. It is only the beginning. Accountability requires action. Nova Scotians should be asking Premier Tim Houston some hard questions.
Did the premier know about these recordings before appointing MacLeod to cabinet? What background checks were done? If the recordings were missed, why did the screening process fail? If they were known, why was MacLeod appointed?
Cabinet appointments are not a reward, although they have often been viewed that way. That can and should change. These positions are positions of public trust. Ministers make decisions that affect our jobs, families, communities and public services. Taxpayers have a right to know what standards cabinet ministers must meet. They also have a right to know what happens when those standards are broken.
MacLeod says the lyrics do not reflect the person he is today, and that may be true. But words like these do not come from nowhere. They reveal attitudes that existed when they were written. People can change, but as the old saying goes, a tiger does not easily change its stripes.
Real change must be proven. Every political party should require its MLAs, senior staff and caucus leaders to complete training on gender-based violence, sexual harassment and respectful workplaces. This is not just a Progressive Conservative problem. The Liberals, NDP and every future party seeking public office should meet the same standard.
Every person appointed to cabinet should complete this training before taking office. The training must also be more than an online video that politicians play while answering emails. It should be developed and delivered with the help of survivors, women’s organizations, Indigenous and African Nova Scotian groups, unions and front-line workers. These groups understand how harassment and abuse happen. They also understand how powerful institutions protect themselves while victims are expected to remain silent. We need to end the use of non-disclosure agreements, full stop.
Nova Scotia has declared intimate partner violence an epidemic. That declaration means little if it does not affect how government acts, whom the premier appoints and what happens when serious concerns are raised. This government must tell Nova Scotians whether it will order a public review of the rules for selecting cabinet ministers. The premier must also explain whether MacLeod will face any real consequences.
We all know and understand that training will not guarantee good character. It will not erase the past or prevent every future failure. Training will help those taking it see the bigger picture and help correct their thinking.
If the government itself refuses to require it, it sends a terrible message that understanding gender-based violence is optional for the people who govern us.
It is not optional.
An apology may open the door to forgiveness, but it does not restore public trust. Trust must be earned through actions, consequences and lasting change.
Nova Scotians should demand nothing less.
This article was first published on Danny Cavanagh’s Substack on August 25, 2026. View the original Substack post. It has been lightly edited for spelling, grammar and Canadian usage.
