There’s little question Halifax Regional Police need a new base of operations, but where it’ll be located and how much it’ll cost are questions still being worked out. An update on HRP’s new facilities plan was presented to the Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday afternoon, detailing options for consolidating and improving the department’s undersized, […]
budget
Posted inLifestyle
3 weed strains that won’t strain your budget
As Sweeney Todd‘s Mrs. Lovett Sondheim-sighs in her first solo, “aye sir, times is hard.” While I’m not making human pies to make ends MEAT right now, I have had to become savvy with my pot allowance. To get double dosages out of my stash, I’ve been vaping more often and then using the leftovers […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
SCIENCE MATTERS: Can emissions shrink while the economy grows?
What does climate change have to do with economic growth? Canada’s prime minister and premiers signed a deal in December to “grow our economy, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and build resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.” The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change outlines plans for carbon pricing, energy-efficient building […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Damage control budget has something for everyone
Nova Scotia’s Liberals are presenting the province’s finances in the best possible light. On Thursday, the government released the $10.5-billion balanced budget for 2017-18, which is showing a net surplus of $26 million. Changes in spending programs and tax reductions were highlighted yesterday during the announcement by finance minister Randy Delorey, however, opposition critics say […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Police overtime spikes in wake of homicides
[Image-1] The police department has blown through nearly its entire overtime budget in the first two quarters of the fiscal year. Halifax Regional Police (HRP) confirm $2.25 million has been spent on overtime between April and October of this year. That leaves less than half a million in the department’s $2.7 million budget for the […]
Posted inArts + Music
No change for film industry in Nova Scotia’s new budget
[Image-1] Well, the province has finished crunching the numbers and this year’s budget thankfully won’t see any more cuts to the film industry. But it won’t be fattening up its wallet either. The Film Incentive Fund remains unchanged, still capped at $10 million despite the chilly reception from both the industry and the public since […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Might be a good time to quit: The price of smokes just went up
[Image-1] If you still want to pack the darts, save your change. The price of cigarettes in Nova Scotia just went up. Effective Wednesday, April 20, the cost of a single smoke is up by two cents, or about 50 cents extra a pack. The cost of a carton of 200 cigarettes will increase by […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nova Scotia government aims to please with balanced budget
The Liberal government announced its 2016-17 provincial budget today, predicting a surplus of $127.4 million in revenue—but not in cold, hard cash. Most of that surplus is coming from federal and municipal contributions to the Halifax Convention Centre. That one-time $110.3 million influx will be eaten up to finance the replacement costs for the Victoria […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
It’s time this government got back to work and fixed Nova Scotia’s film industry
[Image-1] The making of films in Nova Scotia has been a part of the artistic and business landscape since 1913 when Evangeline, one of Canada’s very first films, was shot here. Thousands of Nova Scotians have been employed in this industry over the years. They and their families were a vital part of the Nova Scotia […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Mount Allison will now only cut gender studies funding by half
[Image-1] Changing directions slightly from last week, Mount Allison University has now decided to cut its gender studies budget by 50 instead of 100 percent. According to CBC, the Sackville, New Brunswick school has now committed $12,000 to its women’s and gender studies program after student outcry over proposed budget adjustments that would have effectively […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Dalhousie may increase fees 28 percent for some students
[Image-1] Engineering, pharmacy and agriculture students at Dalhousie University better hope for some scholarships because it looks like costs are going up. Way up. Thursday’s draft operating budget report from Dalhousie’s Budget Advisory Committee is recommending a three percent tuition increase for all Dalhousie University students, coupled with more drastic hikes of as much as […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
City council throws some shade at Nova Scotia’s fiscal health
[Image-1] The municipality’s strong financial health prompted Regional Council on Wednesday morning to consider $10 million for a new strategic infrastructure reserve to finance an additional $75 million in debt. “The economy is generally good on a go-forward basis,” fiscal and tax policy manager Bruce Fisher told council, noting that HRM’s debt is down “dramatically” […]