When Halifax resident Mary Thibeault died in her St. Petersburg, Florida, winter home, she left an estate valued at over half a million dollars and a will naming 13 people and five charities as beneficiaries. One of the beneficiaries was Halifax mayor Peter Kelly. Thibeault called Kelly a friend and valued his judgement: In addition […]
Tim Bousquet
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Further Information
Who was Mary Thibeault? Mary Thibeault is a remarkably elusive character in the drama of what would unfold after her death. She lived a long 91 years, surviving most of her closest friends and relatives, and she has no significant presence on the internet. The living people who knew her best are probably the heirs […]
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In context: Why bus driver overtime exploded last year
Bus driver overtime is at the heart of the current transit strike—the city says it needs to change the way scheduling has been done for over a hundred years in order to address overtime concerns. The union says the schedule changes are a deal breaker. I want to drill down into the overtime issue, but […]
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Driver Adam Francis and his wife are on strike.
I caught up with Adam Francis at the Bridge Terminal this morning. We ducked into the bus shelter to get out of the rain. Here’s Adam’s story:
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Full-time dad and bus driver Matt Faulkner
Metro Transit driver Matt Faulkner contacted me to talk about why scheduling is such a big issue for him, and so I met him at the Sportsplex this morning to hear him out. This is Matt’s story:
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Bus driver Elaine Crouse
Elaine Crouse and her husband are bus drivers. Here’s Elaine’s story:
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Transit union president Ken Wilson talks to the press
This afternoon, after council voted to allow taxis to roam out of their zones for the duration of the transit strike, and discussed turning bus stops into temporary parking spaces, transit union president Ken Wilson held an improptu press conference outside City Hall. Watch it below:
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How Richard Butts is controlling city council
A transit strike is underway and a lawsuit has been filed agains the city over the St. Pat’s-Alexandra school, but mayor Peter Kelly last week said there was no reason for city council to meet at its regularly scheduled meeting for Tuesday, and so abruptly cancelled it. The cancellation caused an uproar both in the […]
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Lewis Roach has been driving bus for 34 years
Most of the Metro Transit strikers are picketing at either the Burnside or Ragged Lake bus garages, but a small contingent continues to gather at the Bridge Terminal. Today I spoke with Lewis Roach, a 34-year driver. Roach mentions the AVL program; I’ve been trying to get more information on that issue, and will report […]
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Striking bus driver Trooper
I went by the Bridge Terminal this evening to talk to striking bus drivers, and found only this lone striker, Tony Rygiel, who goes by the name Trooper. I’ll simply let Trooper tell his own story, via the recording below, but the exchange gives me the idea to regularly interview the strikers, to give a […]
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In context: What driver overtime has to do with the broken bus budget
Metro Transit is hemorrhaging money. It is the only city department that has failed to meet its budget, this year alone being about $3 million over budget. This is a real problem, a big problem. It should concern taxpayers, and it rightly concerns councillors and city staff. But during the on-going transit strike, the issue […]
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Judge stops sale of St. Pat’s-Alexandra to developer
Judge Patrick Duncan issued the above order late yesterday afternoon, ordering a temporary stay of the sale of St. Pat’s-Alexandra School to Jono Developments. The matter will be taken up February 16, when the judge has scheduled a five-and-a-half-hour hearing. The order came after Halifax lawyer Ron Pink filed a Motion for Judicial Review of […]