Tim Bousquet

All hell is breaking lose in the commodity markets today, and oil, which started off at $128/barrel this morning, quickly soared past $129, then $130, $131 and now $132. At 3:30pm it’s at $132.50, and there’s still two-and-a-half of trading left. Some economists are saying it will reach $150 in a matter of weeks. And […]

Although the company won’t confirm, regional councillors are openly speaking about Sobey’s plans in Dartmouth: as owners of Penhorn Mall, they intend to move the nearby grocery store up to the space vacated by Wal-mart, tear down the rest of the mall and rebuild it in big-box fashion—just what we need, more soul-sucking bix boxes […]

For better or worse, we’re at war. And while you can argue over the merits of our glorious Afghanistan crusade, there’s no debating that once we’ve gotten into war, a whole lot of military hardware has got to be acquired—the 17 C 130J Super Hercules aircraft that the government has agreed to buy for $1.4 […]

I’m relatively new to Halifax (four years), and I’m still learning. Things I learned from two recent conversations: 1) When Sheila Fougere was first elected, in 1999, she was the lone woman on regional council, with 22 other male councillors and a male mayor. 2) The women’s washroom at the Midtown is still a small […]

Halifax is stuck in some sort of weird 1940s time loop: Carol Macomber’s human rights complaint against Halifax Regional Municipality covered three areas. According to her complaint, the former senior municipal staffer was discriminated against by her ex-employer when she applied for a director’s post around the time of an organizational shakeup. The restructuring took […]

Since she didn’t think notifying The Coast was very important, we’ll rely on the Chronicle Herald for this bit of news: A Duncan Street resident has announced her candidacy for Halifax regional council in the Oct. 18 municipal elections. “I would like to see neighbours working together on projects that encourage environmental awareness and build […]

A couple of stuffed suits from the airport showed up at council last night to crow about how great the place is, making much of the airport’s regular top honours for “passenger satisfaction for airports with under five million passengers.” But that says more about the hardy, stoic nature of Maritimers, who make up the […]

A press release from the Ecology Action Centre: Halifax – The Ecology Action Centre says the provincial government’s climate change agenda is in need of emergency assistance. The EAC is throwing a lifejacket to the Premier of Nova Scotia and providing a pail full of solutions that the province should act on to fulfill its […]

Well, it can be kinda depressing, but the annual McNabs Island Beach Sweep is an opportunity to check out the island and do some good work besides. I highly recommend it. This year’s sweep is scheduled for Sunday, June 1; meet at 10am at Murphy’s for the free ferry across. Go here to learn more […]

While I’ve followed the news accounts of the battling neighbours in Herring Cove, and have read the court decision, it’s hard to know who is “right” on the issue (I’m talking only the permitting issue, not the subsequent vandalism, of course). People have certain expectations when they buy property, and that includes both expecting that […]

Stephen Kimber, The Coast’s senior feature writer, is releasing his new book tomorrow (Tuesday), 5:30 – 7pm at The Wardroom in the Arts and Administration building at King’s College. All are invited. Loyalists and Layabouts: The few hundred loyalists who gathered at Roubalet’s Tavern in New York on the night of Saturday, November 16, 1782, […]

As I pointed out a few weeks ago, MLA pensions were one consideration in the Liberal’s support for the government. Four members of the Liberal caucus (of nine)— including party leader Stephen McNeil– qualify for pensions as of August 5. Why risk losing that over something as silly as principled political stands? (Seven members of […]