Cabinet ministers call for House of Commons debate over Nova Scotia violence

Four cabinet ministers have requested an emergency debate in the House of Commons over the mounting violence in Nova Scotia.

The Fisheries and Oceans, Indigenous services, Crown-Indigenous relations and public safety ministers made the request of House Speaker Anthony Rota.

It comes after a lobster pound that stored the catch of Mi’kmaq fishers burned to the ground on Saturday morning.

A man described as a person of interest in the blaze is in hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The Mounties have made two arrests in relation to other incidents linked to the dispute.

One man was charged with assault against a local Indigenous chief and another was charged with arson for allegedly burning a vehicle.

Non-Indigenous fishers in Nova Scotia take issue with the Mi’kmaq people fishing outside the federally determined fishing season.

But Ottawa notes that the treaty right for the Mik’maq to fish for a moderate living is constitutionally protected — and was upheld by the Supreme Court of Canada.