I'm confused about how "it appears Dube is an active misogynist". Boon's article is nothing more than griping about how the City won't comment on the issue, and that the public has a right to know every little detail in real time as the issue is in process of being dealt with. The actual reporting was done by CBC, which posts the entire text conversation in their article. I'm not sensing misogyny from what Dube wrote... He changed the names of the satirical article to Whitewood being annoyed with Dube and she committing violent (non-sexual) acts toward him.
I don't know Dube, or Whitewood, and Dube's assumption that Whitewood would understand his "sense of humour" was unprofessional and poor judgement. Misconduct? Probably. Who knows, maybe he is a creep, maybe there's more to Whitewood's concerns about working with him than this text conversation, but for the love of Gord people don't jump to conclusions just because the complainant is a woman and the defendant a man. If this review is really about sorting out whether Dube and Whitewood can continue working together, or if the professional relationship is untenable, then I agree with Council that until the matter is settle between these two professionals then reporters can sit and wait until a conclusion is reached. The court of public opinion will not make this better. Stop the tabloid "gotcha" journalism.
I'm not saying "yay" or "nay" to this project, but I just hope all the naysayers understand the reason cities are so happy to approve massive developments. It generates a lot of tax revenue, and cities are constantly cash strapped trying to provide all of the infrastructure and services the same whiney people are constantly begging for. I a vicious cycle, isn't it.
Many good points here but for me the two keys points are (1) "while average rents are four percent higher in Ottawa, downtown-to-downtown they're three percent lower", and (2) "Our combined wages would've resulted in $5,400 less income tax paid in Ontario than in Nova Scotia". These are the two points that have had me considering a move as well. I work for a national organization that bases its offices in downtown cores; they scale our wages down here because of a perceived lower cost of living, when reality is it is not cheaper to live here unless you're talking about buying a home in the backwoods of Tantallon.
I find this article confusing. First of all, by saying"Halifax" is not to blame, who or what exactly is Halifax? Politicians at a municipal level? Provincial level? Halifax businesses? Halifax Joe Public citizens? The way I read it, the author is saying "it's not Halifax's fault there are fewer job prospects here for young adults, it's young adults' fault for thinking there would be decent paying entry level jobs in a field relevant to their education". Is he saying "just because Halifax educational institutions offer a wide variety of programs, both specialized and general, doesn't mean the local economy should be strong enough to actually have jobs for that training"?
I too decided I wanted to stay in Nova Scotia when I finished university, in 2004. Unlike the author, I didn't get baited with graduate tax rebates... nope, missed that boat, but still stayed. It took a couple of years, but I found work in a field (somewhat) relevant to my education at a starting salary that was 30% less than what my university suggested someone with my degree would be able to achieve.
Not everyone leaves because there isn't a job here for them, they leave because the same job anywhere outside Atlantic Canada pays significantly more, and the myth that our cost of living is lower here is not accurate, at least in proportion to the lower incomes. This is particularly true in Halifax, where apartments (which is what 99% of young adults live in) are significantly more expensive than the rest of the province, and comparable to many other Canadian cities. You can spend 5 years here, barely carving out an existence, or you can go to Toronto or Calgary and come back after 5 years with better job experience, a flush bank account, and you'll probably take that upper level job from the guy who's been grinding it out here for 5 years.
In addition, Halifax is the de facto Toronto of Atlantic Canada. It has to be the economic engine of the region, let alone the province. That responsibility means as a city you have to be aggressive and competitive with the other major cities in Canada, not just Atlantic Canada. It means having a favourable business climate; incentives for business to STAY, not to just come and then leave; and a more pro-development, pro-growth attitude from the people. We're in a country with cities that are willing to take risks for the sake of wealth and growth and if you snooze you lose. Moncton has that attitude, but lacks the critical mass to be a real economic driver for the region. Halifax, collectively, must step up.
If only they had built the new farmer's market at the other end of town (Scotia Square's end of town), it would be a legitimate place for local food vendors to sell to the business crowd.
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I don't know Dube, or Whitewood, and Dube's assumption that Whitewood would understand his "sense of humour" was unprofessional and poor judgement. Misconduct? Probably. Who knows, maybe he is a creep, maybe there's more to Whitewood's concerns about working with him than this text conversation, but for the love of Gord people don't jump to conclusions just because the complainant is a woman and the defendant a man. If this review is really about sorting out whether Dube and Whitewood can continue working together, or if the professional relationship is untenable, then I agree with Council that until the matter is settle between these two professionals then reporters can sit and wait until a conclusion is reached. The court of public opinion will not make this better. Stop the tabloid "gotcha" journalism.
I too decided I wanted to stay in Nova Scotia when I finished university, in 2004. Unlike the author, I didn't get baited with graduate tax rebates... nope, missed that boat, but still stayed. It took a couple of years, but I found work in a field (somewhat) relevant to my education at a starting salary that was 30% less than what my university suggested someone with my degree would be able to achieve.
Not everyone leaves because there isn't a job here for them, they leave because the same job anywhere outside Atlantic Canada pays significantly more, and the myth that our cost of living is lower here is not accurate, at least in proportion to the lower incomes. This is particularly true in Halifax, where apartments (which is what 99% of young adults live in) are significantly more expensive than the rest of the province, and comparable to many other Canadian cities. You can spend 5 years here, barely carving out an existence, or you can go to Toronto or Calgary and come back after 5 years with better job experience, a flush bank account, and you'll probably take that upper level job from the guy who's been grinding it out here for 5 years.
In addition, Halifax is the de facto Toronto of Atlantic Canada. It has to be the economic engine of the region, let alone the province. That responsibility means as a city you have to be aggressive and competitive with the other major cities in Canada, not just Atlantic Canada. It means having a favourable business climate; incentives for business to STAY, not to just come and then leave; and a more pro-development, pro-growth attitude from the people. We're in a country with cities that are willing to take risks for the sake of wealth and growth and if you snooze you lose. Moncton has that attitude, but lacks the critical mass to be a real economic driver for the region. Halifax, collectively, must step up.