[Image-1] Whether Seymour Hersh cares about his legendary status is neither here nor there. At age 78, the investigative reporter has a body of work most ambitious journalists would likely sell their souls to assemble. Hersh has produced material that’s been controversial, partly for mistakes he has admittedly made and for his use of unnamed […]
Michael Lightstone
Posted inNews + Opinion
Who’s going to vote for the Greens?
[Image-1] It’s getting close to performance-review time for the 19-month-old Stephen McNeil government. Nova Scotia’s major political parties are vying for support in three provincial by-elections to be held this year. Candidates for the ruling Liberals, and the opposition Conservatives and New Democrats, are going to be busy glad-handing strangers they encounter and promoting themselves […]
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Talking human rights, with Amnesty International Canada’s secretary general
[Image-1] The Canadian branch of international human-rights organization Amnesty International will gather this weekend in Halifax for its annual general meeting. Secretary general Alex Neve spoke about the never-ending battle for human rights. What will members of Amnesty International Canada be doing in Halifax? The simple answer is we will be gathering for our annual […]
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Running on empty: voter fatigue in Nova Scotia
[Image-1] If you’re a political junkie living in any of the three electoral districts in Nova Scotia that will see a trio of elections between now and the autumn of 2016, you’re going to get your fix in a big way. Should you not be looking forward to sales pitches from political candidates, or casting […]
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What bombshells will drop from the Duffy trial?
[Image-1] Halifax journalist and author Dan Leger is closely following the Ottawa trial of suspended Tory senator Mike Duffy. A Prince Edward Island native, Duffy is facing 31 charges stemming from the Senate expenses scandal. Leger will be preparing a paperback version of his 2014 book, Duffy: Stardom to Senate to Scandal, for publication later […]
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Howard Epstein knows what killed the NDP
[Image-1] A former backbencher and an ex-Halifax council member, retired politician Howard Epstein has now published a political memoir, Rise Again: Nova Scotia’s NDP on the Rocks. Among other things, Epstein’s book is the former MLA’s account of the New Democrats’ sole term in office before being knocked back to third-party status in the 2013 […]
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The Ivany Report Report: Chapter four
[Image-1] The future prosperity of Nova Scotia should not be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics. —Ray Ivany It seems the few times our elected officials take a break from partisan politics are during international hockey tournaments and following the death of well-respected, famous Canadians. Not even military action or war prompts the kind […]
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It took seven years to get a decision from the Human Rights Commission
[Image-1] Update: You can read the full decision by board of inquiry chair Lynn Connors online. It finds Pearl Kelly was discriminated against because of her sex and disability. Connors also owns up to being behind the eight ball in her decision. I am late in filing this decision. There are a number of reasons. […]
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The Ivany Report Report: Chapter three
[Image-1] We have to work at this together. We have to find ways not to be at cross-purposes with other municipalities in the province. —Mike Savage, mayor There’s some debate out there about whether the Halifax region is the tried-and-true economic engine driving our sputtering provincial economy. It’s a big engine, but not the only […]
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The Ivany Report Report: Chapter two
[Image-1] From what I know, all my friends will try to settle here rather than going home. —Deric Johnson, graduate student Nova Scotia is home to young folks from foreign lands who came for their post-secondary education and stayed after graduation. But not nearly enough are willing or able to remain here. This province could […]
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The Ivany Report Report: Chapter one
[Image-1] If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. —Maya Angelou Economic renewal reports in Nova Scotia come and go, but the Ivany commission’s findings have generated lasting buzz. The commissioners’ report, which has vocal supporters and critics, spawned an all-party committee of politicians, businesspeople and others. Called […]
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Racial profiling still a problem in Nova Scotia
[Image-1] Next week, as part of African Heritage Month, consultant Ann Divine will be speaking about the findings of 2013 research into racial profiling amongst Nova Scotia’s consumers. The former Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission employee took some time to speak with The Coast about the subtleties of racial bias. How would you define racial […]