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 […]
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Election day in Halifax comes with delays, long lines and votes cast well after 8:30pm
It has been 36 days since prime minister Justin Trudeau called an early election, which proved successful as he held on to power late Monday night forming a minority government. The Liberal party’s seat tally is not much different than it was before the House of Commons dissolved. Elections Canada warned that COVID cleaning and […]
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If you don’t want your vote, give it to an immigrant who can’t vote
Immigration represents a large portion of the population in Canada—most of us are immigrants to Turtle Island, after all—but you might not be aware that only immigrants who have achieved Canadian citizenship can vote. Temporary workers who come to this country and contribute to its economy cannot choose their political representative. Lowering the expensive tuitions […]
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What fighting COVID can teach the world about confronting the climate crisis
In the 18 months since the pandemic began, vaccines were developed and approved for global use, drastic public health measures were implemented and largely followed, and new models for stay-at-home working and learning were developed overnight. Given the global cooperation and concentrated effort that’s been used to combat COVID-19, some doctors and scientists are looking […]
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What the federal parties will do in Nova Scotia for housing, health care and more
Earlier this month, we wrote about who is running in each of the Nova Scotia ridings in the federal election. As the candidates battle it out on a local level, national party leaders are also drawing a smidge of their attention towards Nova Scotia, which flipped from Liberal to Progressive Conservative in the provincial election […]
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Jagmeet Singh talks affordable housing and access to voting
Note on election coverage: The Coast has reached out to the federal Liberal, Conservative and Green parties to request interviews with their respective leaders. The Liberals declined but offered an interview with local candidate Andy Fillmore, and the Conservatives and Greens have yet to respond. Jagmeet Singh says there’s one issue that seems to have […]
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Natural resources minister looking into Owls Head Park sale
New minister of renewable and natural resources Tory Rushton says he “needs to understand” how the sale of Owls Head Provincial Park happened before taking next steps. “You’ve heard us speak at different times about Owls Head. We need to understand what was signed in the contract by the previous government,” said Rushton, the MLA […]
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Rent control extension is not off the table, says new housing minister
Extending Nova Scotia’s temporary rent control program, which is currently tied to the COVID state of emergency, is not off the table for new housing minister and landlord John Lohr. The Kings North MLA and newly-sworn-in minister says the PC government has not ruled out the possibility of an extension to rent control, which is […]
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Nova Scotia’s new cabinet has 2 health ministers, but is missing one for mental health
Progressive Conservative premier Tim Houston was sworn in Tuesday, alongside his team of 18 cabinet ministers. The new cabinet includes seven women, new roles and Nova Scotia’s third white MLA overseeing African Nova Scotian affairs. Together the 19 politicians make up Nova Scotia’s executive council; Houston is president of the council, as well as minister […]
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Conservative candidate Troy Myers drops out after sexual assault allegation
Following an allegation of sexual assault from a provincial NDP candidate, Troy Myers, CEO and librarian of the South Shore Public Libraries, has withdrawn from running in the federal election. Myers was representing the Conservatives in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour. Myers posted a statement on his Facebook page Monday morning denying the accusation, but says “for the […]
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What new premier Tim Houston promises to do in Nova Scotia
Houston, we have a majority. Premier Tim Houston (does that still sound weird? He’s technically premier-designate now) was elected on Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday morning his Progressive Conservative Party had a clear majority government with 31 of the 55 seats in Nova Scotia’s legislature. Houston wasted no time selecting a transition staff team to […]
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Halifax results and ridings in the 2021 Nova Scotia election
Happy post-election, Nova Scotia. After an interesting 31-day campaign dominated by talk of health care, rent control and sexism—not to mention a federal election call arriving at the tail end of the provincial campaign—the province elected a Progressive Conservative government. Tim Houston will be Nova Scotia’s next premier. For the best look at election results […]