The premier has appointed a new deputy minister to the government office that represents the Black community.
Dwayne Provo has been named the Associate Deputy Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.
He’s released a letter, saying he’s already started speaking with community members about their concerns.
“I know this is just a first step, and I look forward to having more conversations, and providing a vehicle for community voices to be heard within government,” Provo says.
He’s a black educational administrator from Preston, but you might also know him from his time playing professional football.
Provo was an athlete with the Canadian Football League from 1995 to 2002. He spent some time in the National Football League with the New England Patriots.
He also ran unsuccessfully for the Progressive Conservative party in his home riding in both 2006 and 2009.
Tory Premier Tim Houston recently came under fire for appointing white people to fill the top two positions at the department of African Nova Scotian Affairs.
Veteran MLA Pat Dunn was appointed as the minister of the portfolio in August. He represents the riding of Pictou Centre.
The move was criticized by some members of the Black community along with the decision to remove of Kesa Munroe-Anderson, who is Black, as the deputy minister of the portfolio.
Houston said a recent meeting with Black community leaders went well, and they presented him with a roadmap for how to move forward.
“Decisions that I took, offended the community,” he said. “It was not my intention to offend anyone, and I apologize.”
Provo will act as the third-most senior official in the department, working with Dunn and deputy minister Justin Huston.
**With files from B. Jack Morse.
