Liberal staffer Kyley Harris embarrasses boss with tweet

An insensitivetweet by a Liberal staffer who was once Premier Stephen McNeil's communications directorhas the premier on the defensive.

The tweet is an attack on a bill introduced Tuesdayby PC MLA Tim Houston that called for the government to provide more support to youth with mental illness.

The proposed law is named in honour of CayleyFox, a 21-year-old woman witha mental illnesswho killed herself in January after failing to get the help she needed. Her mother Carolyn was at Province House to personally endorse the effort.

Tweet deleted

But Kyley Harris, a Liberal caucus office researcher, called the effort "garbage" in a tweet aimed at a Progressive Conservativestaffer.

Posted at 2:20 p.m. onTuesday, the tweet read:"Chasing headlines is one thing - chasing tragedieslike Fort Mac and Cayley's story is Jim 'The Hammer'Shapirogarbage."

The tweet has since been deleted.

When askedabout it during question period Wednesday, McNeilwasted no time in distancing himself from that sentiment.

"Any time that we lost a young Nova Scotian without being able to provide them supports is a tragedy for all of us," he said.

"At no time would I ever, ever, ever associate myself with any remarks that would demean anyone who came forward to make sure that they tell their story to make things better Mr. Speaker."

'Unacceptable'

Outside the House, McNeil told reporters he hadn't seen the tweet, but he also wasn't happy with its reported content.

"What was expressed on the floor was unacceptable," he said.

"No one who is, at any time, telling a painful story for them to try to do good for the public should in any way be anything but applauded for that."

Harris doing good work, says premier

Despite being critical of the tweet, the premier continues to have faith in Harris and said he's been doing a great job.

Harris lost his job in the premier's office two years ago when he failed to tell McNeil he had been charged with assaulting his partner.

Harris pleaded guilty and was given a conditional discharge and nine monthsprobation. He was still serving that probationwhen the Liberal caucus office hired him to do research.