1
The Ecology Action Centre is on the march after losing 100 percent of their funding for walk-to-school programs. The $105,000 cut was part of April’s budget, and further talks with Health and Wellness minister Leo Glavine have apparently done nothing to change the decision. The now-defunct program works with over 2,000 students in 24 schools across the province. This at a time when a new report finds physical activity for Canadian children to be D for dismal. Eliminating efforts to teach safety and healthy living to schoolchildren might be another reason the Liberals’ public approval rating is dropping.
2
Speaking of Leo Glavine, the minister tells CBC it may be worth looking into what happened to Lily, the 14-year-old in a mental health crisis turned away by the IWK this past weekend. Emphasis on “may,” as Glavine stops short of committing to actual action. “These are very special and very often unique cases when they do come along,” he states.
3
Game over man. The Senate’s gotta be done after this. The Auditor General’s report on Senate expenses was finally released yesterday and it’s a whopper. Thirty current and former senators were found to have questionably expensed more than $1 million. Nine of the cases have been sent to the RCMP for investigation. Expenses include travel for staff members and spouses, wedding celebrations, retirement parties, fishing trips and spending on the senators’ business activities. Out of the 30 senators included in the report, three are from Nova Scotia. Don Oliver, retired, was found to have $48,000 in questionable expenses, while sitting senators Terry Mercer and James Cowan were named for over $29,338 and $10,397, respectively. Of course, the report cost taxpayers $23 million to compile, but Canadians will gladly pay that and more when it comes to dismantling the Senate.
4
In more news of institutional dismantling, Evan Solomon. You can vote for who the CBC should get rid of next in our quick poll. Fun fact: As of this posting, absolutely nobody thinks it should be Peter Mansbridge.
5
NOFX and a whole barrel of bands you know and love are rolling into Halifax on August 10 for a big Fat Wrecked Tour.
6
Don’t forget that our 21st annual Best of Halifax poll is still going strong . Have you voted for you favourite dessert/food truck/electronic artist/retail sign? Get on it.
+2 Sure Things
The Halifax Independent Filmmakers Festival kicks off its 9th annual celebration of “fiercely independent films” tonight with two screenings. At 7pm is the “Atlantic Auteurs #1” program, a collection of new shorts from east coasters. Then the 72-minute feature Here Kitty Kitty, shot in Halifax with minimal budget but maximum passion, shows at 9pm. All HIFF films are showing at the Neptune Studio Theatre.
Just down Argyle Street from Neptune, Hillsburn plays The Carleton. This is the local folk-rock group that finished in the top 10 of CBC’s ”Searchlight” hunt for “Canada’s best new artist.” Show starts at 8pm.
Here’s Here Kitty Kitty’s trailer.
