The family of the 16-year-old hockey player who was subjected to racist taunts at a game in Prince Edward Island is disappointed having not yet heard from the Nova Scotia government. “I know it’s a hockey thing, but I thought (there would be) at least an acknowledgement from the minister in charge of African Nova […]
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New instructions to police expected to strengthen ban on street checks
A new law enforcement directive is meant to strengthen the existing ban on the racist practice of police street checks, which targeted Black Haligonians six times more often than white residents. Liberal and NDP critics for justice and African Nova Scotian affairs say they’re pleased with the change, but there’s more work to be done. “It’s […]
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Gary Burrill steps down as NDP leader, “this is the right moment to renew ourselves”
In order to propel the Nova Scotia NDP forward, leader Gary Burrill says it’s time to make way for someone new to take the helm. “I’m going to be stepping down from leader of the party in order for us to have the opportunity to renew ourselves before the next election,” Burrill told reporters at […]
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Premier Tim Houston apologizes for minimum wage “real jobs” comment
In a tense back and forth with NDP leader Gary Burrill, during one of the final days of the legislature’s fall sitting, premier Tim Houston explained why he’s not focused on hiking the minimum wage to $15 an hour. “What I’m focused on is the economy of this province and making sure that every Nova […]
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Mass Casualty Commission’s public proceedings could have started today
Today, Oct 26, was supposed to be the start of public proceedings for the federal and provincial public inquiry into what happened when a gunman dressed as an RCMP officer shot and killed 22 Nova Scotians in April 2020. Instead, the first public hearings into the Portapique tragedy will begin in February—four months later than […]
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Rent control extended until the end of 2023
Until the end of 2023, rent in Nova Scotia cannot be hiked above a two percent annual increase. Premier Tim Houston announced the measure—a two-year extension of the pandemic-time rent control measure first set out in November 2020—today, following weeks of public pressure on the government amid the housing crisis. The PC leader, who has […]
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Province shares details of “limited” hospital COVID outbreak, impacting 3 patients
A small outbreak, affecting three patients in a non-COVID unit at Valley Regional Hospital, is a stark reminder of how COVID in communities can impact the health system, executive director of Western regional health zone Alyson Lamb said Tuesday. Lamb, who oversees the Kentville hospital where the limited outbreak has been identified, joined chief medical officer […]
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Former African Nova Scotian affairs minister says PCs are “playing politics with equity”
The former African Nova Scotian affairs minister says it’s a shame the newly appointed PC minister of the department is “playing politics with equity.” Tony Ince, the Liberal MLA for Cole Harbour, says he briefly met Pat Dunn to exchange pleasantries, but the new minister has not attempted to discuss the African Nova Scotian affairs […]
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PCs apologize for whitening the African Nova Scotian affairs department
It has been more than a month since Progress Conservative premier Tim Houston’s cabinet reveal named Pat Dunn as minister of African Nova Scotian affairs—the third white politician to hold the role since it was created in 2003. In this move the former deputy minister of the department, a Black woman, was replaced with a […]
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24 protesters arrested at the shelter siege have their first day in court
“I’m not a hero,” says Kate MacDonald into a microphone, standing at the centre of a group gathered this morning outside the courthouse on Spring Garden Road. “Nobody here is.” But the crowd of about 50 may disagree. MacDonald and 23 others were arrested by Halifax Regional Police on August 18 for defending their unhoused […]
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City responds to housing crisis with modular units and staffer used to emergencies
The assistant chief of emergency management for HRM usually deals with the fallout from hurricanes, power outages and nor’easters. Erica Fleck has been in that position since 2017, but the duties of the job largely changed earlier this month when Fleck was assigned to what the city calls “a three-month role leading the emergency response […]
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Full election results for Halifax and Nova Scotia as Conservatives gain Liberal ground
By some standards, Justin Trudeau’s decision to call an early election during the pandemic’s fourth wave was a success. Trudeau is still prime minister, and his Liberal Party gained a seat in parliament according to preliminary results the day after voting day. But the Liberals still don’t have a majority—the prize Trudeau clearly sought with […]