The National Citizens Alliance of Canada returned to Halifax as part of a pre-election tour Thursday September 12 at Cornwallis Park. NCA leader Stephen Garvey is running for MP in the Cumberland-Colchester riding in Nova Scotia. Close to 100 counter-demonstrators organized by Halifax Against Hate showed up early to disrupt the event. More than a […]
Sandra C. Hannebohm
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Buyer beware: three rental traps to avoid in Halifax
1 Fixed term leases Fixed term leases are different from year-to-year leases. Instead of the standard terms, in a fixed lease the landlord and tenant can negotiate the specific terms of their lease with a fixed end date. If a lease isn’t renewed and the tenant is still there, it automatically becomes a month-to-month lease. […]
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Airbnb listings seeing increased revenue, more “Superhosts”
Q New Airbnb statistics show a big increase in multiple-listing hosts in Halifax Regional Municipality since last year. According to the data, entire-home listings continue to see the most bookings, and hosts who manage multiple units make half of all the revenue generated by the short-term accommodation site during the height of the summer season. […]
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Counter protesters out-chant NCA recruiters in Halifax
Afederal nationalist party called The National Canadian Alliance tried to recruit members in Nova Scotia on June 22 but were met once again with heavy opposition by a counter demonstration of at least 100 people at Grand Parade Square. While counter-protestors starkly outnumbered the NCA rally, none were reported carrying weapons. No one was reported […]
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Anti-poverty group sees little sign of change in so-called welfare transformation
The province’s welfare transformation is little more than a rebranding according to an anti-poverty advocacy group. “I see little sign of transformation where the rubber meets the road,” says Benefits Reform Action Group member Aron Spidle. The department of community services is restructuring the benefits people receive for shelter and basic necessities by grouping them […]
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Youth members of street check report working group are fed up and have walked out
T rayvone Clayton, DeRico Symonds, Shevy Price and Kate Macdonald have walked out of the Wortley Street Check Action Working Group. Their statement, released Monday, explains: “During the third meeting, we became aware of the intended purpose of the working group,” it says. “This information we received counteracted with our beliefs and the communities’ beliefs […]
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Breaking the cycle of period poverty for low-income Nova Scotians
Gayle Collicutt was 17 when she saw her first women’s shelter. “My mother was an alcoholic and I was out of control,” she says, so eventually she was dropped off at Adsum House for Women and Children. The dramatic change in surroundings “was very eye-opening. “I got stolen from a lot,” she says. “I even […]
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Fighting to keep young adults with disabilities out of nursing homes
Mary Burtt’s daughter Laura Osborne was diagnosed with metachromatic leukodystrophy—a rare disease with symptoms of muscle rigidity, inability to walk, seizures and blindness—when she was 16 years old. “We knew it was only going to get worse,” says Burt. Laura Osborne’s disease progressed until she began using a wheelchair, and by the time she was […]
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The time is yesterday for action on systemic warehousing of people with disabilities
Last Thursday disability advocacy groups presented a letter to the premier, calling on the provincial government to address systemic warehousing of people with disabilities. “The fact that there are thousands of people with disabilities still living in institutions shows that Nova Scotia is not doing enough to keep these promises and support our rights,” says […]
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Rental supplements not a fix-all solution to housing crisis
Housing Nova Scotia is on track to meeting its target of applying an additional 500 rental subsidies to reduce the housing wait list. Last year the provincial government committed to reducing the wait list by 30 percent—almost doubling the number of rent supplements over three years. Rental supplements exist as an alternative to for the […]
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Federal budget funds far off for Nova Scotia’s home-buyers
The federal housing budget announced solutions to Canada’s housing problems last week but experts say the plan isn’t likely to change the lives of Nova Scotians. “It’s only an incentive for those who were going to get a home anyway,” says Nova Scotia anti-poverty and housing advocate Jodi Brown. Michael Haan, Canada Research Chair in […]
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Short-term rental rules to change in favour of Airbnb listers
N ew legislation introduced last week will repeal the Tourist Accommodations Act and create an online registry for short-term rentals like Airbnb, but the new rules could instead open opportunities for enterprising hosts with a mind to avoid taxes. David de Jongh, former Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia member and owner of Seawind Landing […]