Correction: Although two members of council are running for mayor in the October 19, 2024 election, the following story as originally published only mentioned the candidacy of one of them. That lack of full context has been fixed, and we sincerely apologize for the oversight. (August 8) Councillor Pam Lovelace proposed a motion during Tuesday’s […]
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Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax to start environmental stewardship of watersheds
The city’s Environment and Sustainability Committee met on the first day of August, and started that meeting with two presentations before moving on to their agenda of making sure we have enough clean drinking water. The first presentation was from LungNSPEI, which gave the committee a look at the dangers of radon, the second-leading cause […]
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‘Pride belongs to us’: Pro-Palestine protest organizer speaks on parade demonstration
Since the Halifax Pride Parade on June 20, news outlets have reported that a group of pro-Palestine protesters demonstrated during the event. While some call this a hijacking of a day meant to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, others see it as standing in solidarity with people who, like many in the queer community, are […]
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Residential Tenancies Act remains toothless as support systems become overwhelmed
Nova Scotia’s New Democratic Party is once again calling on Houston’s Progressive Conservative government to create a tenancy enforcement unit to ensure both tenants and landlords are following the rules. In their statement released on July 17, the NSNDP claims Houston’s government has been “sitting on a consultant’s report” recommending the creation of such […]
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Halifax spent $208,572 to offer three foreign workers private sector jobs
Sometimes, like when it comes to housing, Halifax’s city council cares a lot about not straying into what is provincial jurisdiction. Sometimes, like when it comes to labour, Halifax’s city council is more than happy to waste our tax money on things that are under provincial jurisdiction. At Thursday’s Community Planning and Economic Development standing […]
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The Regional Watersheds Advisory Board is gone. What’s next?
As of the city council meeting on July 9, Halifax’s Regional Watersheds Advisory Board (RWAB) has been canned. The volunteer board had been mandated to support the environment subcommittee with advice, though according to some members of the board, communication with this subcommittee didn’t exist. These members—Céofride Gaudet, Sue Belford, and Martin Willison—announced on […]
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Your Guide to KANA’TA: Canada Day 2024
Canada’s birthday is right around the corner and this year, the celebrations are going to look a little different by design. According to HRM, this year’s Canada Day program was developed in close collaboration with Indigenous communities and is bursting with programming that honours the traditions of the Mi’kmaw Nation and celebrates pan-Indigenous communities that […]
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Fixed-term lease legislation remains a nightmare for renters in Halifax
Catherine Chase didn’t expect she would have to pick up her life and move by the end of August. Chase rents a two-bedroom apartment at Prince Edward Estates, owned and managed by Flex Development. She moved in during 2021, and at the time signed a fixed-term lease with the company. This type of lease […]
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The municipal election is coming up—do you know your boundaries?
Municipal elections are coming up fast. All one has to do is look at the number of politicians announcing their run for mayor to see just how quickly the city is gearing up for election season. However, some residents may be voting for different councillors in different districts than before. In January, electoral boundaries in […]
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North End Bikeway Corridor may not be enough for experienced cyclists
Steve MacKay has been cycling in the city for the last 15 years. As construction on the North End Bikeway Corridor continues—the city’s project to create a safe route for cyclists from the north end to downtown—MacKay has chosen to remain on his route through Agricola Street. “There’s not enough there to bring me […]
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HRM’s anti-slumlord bylaw—what is it and how does it work?
HRM’s executive committee voted in favour of a staff report detailing a communications strategy to let people in the city—especially young people—know about bylaw M-200 and other housing related guidelines. Well, what is bylaw M-200? It is, essentially, anti-slumlord legislation. Also known as Respecting Standards for Residential Occupancies, the bylaw sets minimum standards for […]
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The Grand Parade podcast: Who wields the most power with Halifax’s Housing Accelerator Fund plans?
Some good news on Halifax’s housing front: Construction is booming across Nova Scotia—and the bulk of those new units underway are in the HRM. In the first three months of 2024, the province saw more housing starts—2,158 units—than in any other first quarter in its recorded history. It’s about time. Related Both Halifax and Nova […]
