Howard Epstein announced Tuesday that he will not run for reelection in the next provincial election. Epstein was elected as councillor to the old city of Halifax in 1994, then to HRM in 1996. He was first elected to the legislature in 1998, and has handily won reelection in every election since. Epstein turns 64, […]
Howard Epstein
Posted inNews + Opinion
Howard Epstein ponders his future with the NDP
[image-1] While the NDP caucus considers what to do with Howard Epstein, Epstein is in turn rethinking his position with the NDP. In an interview with The Coast last Friday, Epstein openly mulled over his future with the party. He says he is considering leaving the party and sitting as independent in the legislature. The proposed downtown convention centre is one factor in a constellation of issues that is causing the Halifax MLA to rethink his relationship with the NDP. In our Friday interview, Epstein revealed that the convention centre would cost $160 million, and the proposal was for the
Posted inNews + Opinion
First look at convention centre costs: City will be asked to pay $57 million
[image-1] The proposed convention centre for downtown Halifax will cost taxpayers $160 million, with the province and city each contributing $57 million, and the federal government providing the balance, $46 million. These budget figures were included in a detailed proposal given to the provincial NDP caucus last Wednesday, and were provided to The Coast by Halifax MLA Howard Epstein. Infrastructure minister Bill Estabrooks, who is overseeing the convention centre project for the Darrell Dexter government, declined Monday to comment on possible financing schemes and would not confirm Epstein’s figures. “It’s too rich for our blood; it’s too expensive,” says Epstein.
Posted inBest of Halifax
Best Politico Waiting in the Wings
As we all know, Darrell Dexter didn’t include him in the cabinet when he went into office in summer 2009. Given Howard’s experience with the environment—Epstein is a former director of the Ecology Action Centre—his absence is a real shame. At some point in the coming months there’ll be a shuffle, and when it comes, […]