Churchill denies touching two former NDP cabinet ministers

Education Minister Zach Churchill is denying that he hasever laid a hand on anyoneat Province House or outside the legislativechamber.

"At no time have I ever, have I touched somebody in an aggressive way in this chamber or poked anybody's shoulder," Churchill told reporters on his way into the House on Wednesday

The allegations come from two women who sat in cabinet during the first-ever NDP government in Nova Scotia. RamonaJennexand Denise Peterson-Rafuseeach wrote Speaker Kevin Murphy on Monday evening to inform him of their experiences, which date back between four and six years ago.

Jennex saysChurchill berated her and poked her shoulder so hard it pushed her backwards. Jennex was in government at the time and Churchill sat on the opposition benches. According to Jennex, the incident happened on April 12, 2012.

Her former cabinet colleague, Denise Peterson-Rafuse, saysher encounter happened after question period, when Churchill was Natural Resources minister.

She told CBCNews she may have been hecklingor questioning Churchill just before he crossed the floor and came up to her desk from behind. She has said Churchill yanked her shoulder with some force.

"I guess what it was, was the strength," said Peterson-Rafusewhen asked what was remarkable about the confrontation. "It was not like ... a little tap on the shoulder. I mean it was a yank, that was likeanger."

She said it happened before the legislature had a formal harassment policy so she took her concerns to NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald who, according to Peterson-Rafuse,complained to Premier Stephen McNeil about it.

McNeilflatly denied that claim when questioned by reporters.

"At no time had anyone raised with me the issue of a member of our caucus physically touching any member of the opposition," he said.

"I can assure you I would clearly remember that and that member would know what my thoughts would be on that issue."

The premierand the other party leaders were copied on the emailssent by Jennex and Peterson-Rafuse.

McNeil said he asked staff to go through his email messagesgoing back to 2012 and has found no evidenceanyone raised the issue with him.

"There (have) been times when people have talked to me about the enthusiasm of some of our members, for sure," he said."We were in opposition. We were young guys.

"But at no time, let me be clear about this, at no time did anyone reach out to me or tell me about aphysical altercation."

'3 different, separate incidents'

Peterson-Rafusesaid she was motivated to write the Speaker after the Liberals used their majority at Province House to defeat a motion to have the legislature's Internal Affairs Committee examine a complaint by PC MLA Tim Houston.

The opposition leaderaccused Churchill of grabbing him by the shoulders during a shouting match between the two of them outside the chamber on budget day.

Peterson-Rafuse said she wasn't aware anyone else had written to the Speakerwhen she sent her email.

"Now you're looking at three different, separate incidents so I would say that's a pattern and that it is inappropriate for anybody and it should be looked into," she said.