Just wanted to comment on the piece by Tara Thorne in the Back to School Guide (“Ironic, man,” September 3). That was hands down one of the best opinion pieces I have ever read—sad, funny, honest and regrettably all too true. I was actually a little shocked that The Coast even ran it. After all, […]
Letters
Posted inNews + Opinion
The Cost of Power
After reading Chris Benjamin’s story (“Breaking wind,” September 10) I felt compelled to comment on several sides of the wind power argument. As an electrical engineer working for a consulting firm directly involved in many of the operational and planned wind energy projects in Nova Scotia, I have experienced the polarization of public opinion regarding […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Low tuition a good thing!
Two weeks ago, Tim Bousquet wrote that reducing tuition fees “would be good for our young people, and good for our economy”(“Lower tuition rates,” September 3). We need only look to our neighbours in Newfoundland and Labrador to see how true this statement really is. Students in Newfoundland pay half as much for a university […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Bill Forbes obituary humiliating
I do not often read your publication but I learned that you recently published a tribute to Bill Forbes (“Farewell to Forbes” by Alison Lang, July 30). I have been following the glowing tributes to this wonderful actor since his days with Mermaid Theatre 25 years ago. Did you have to add humiliation to his […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Tax Reform information available
Tim Bousquet’s recent editorial on Tax Reform (“Taxing problems,” August 13) uses strong language but is short on substance and facts. Regional council appointed seven citizens and six councillors from across the region to review the “foundations” of the property tax system and to conduct public consultations. Its meetings are public and extensive information is […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Sex trade should be legalized and regulated
My initial reaction to charitydawnosauras’s comment on sex workers (Letters, August 27, re: “Sex work in the shadows,” August 20), was that maybe it was satirical. On reflection, though, I have to conclude that she really did mean it when she said “the punishment for picking up prostitutes should be much, much harsher.” Did she […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Middle Aged “Twits”
I’m not surprised that the fastest-growing group of “Twits” are middle-aged, moderately successful urbanites. This group of over-40s has come late into the whole social networking thing, and embraced the simple one-liner broadcast style of Twitter: “Hey, this is great, I can fiddle with my expensive new phone during meetings (booooring), in front of cocktail […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Youth in Halifax aren’t getting the respect they deserve
The news about Peter Duffy’s new gig (Reality Bites, page 5) just proves that our leadership has its head stuck somewhere far less pleasant than the sand. I respect that work experience comes with a certain amount of wisdom, which serves anyone well in a new job. Fine. But new ideas and new perspectives are […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
With all due respect
I just wanted to write and thank Meredith Dault for such a great, nuanced and respectful piece about Stepping Stone and the sex workers who the organization supports (“Sex work in the shadows,” August 20). I’m an American activist whose focus is sexuality and media—among other things, I run a media training workshop for sex […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Not so super
Last weekend I went grocery shopping at the Superstore on Barrington Street. When I’m shopping for produce, I always check where it was grown and buy local when possible. I appalled to find that, at the peak of harvest season in the Maritimes, it was impossible to find anything local. Carrots, potatoes, apples, onions, blueberries, beans…all things that are plentiful at this time of the year were “product of USA” or from the west coast. For a chain that presents itself as environmentally friendly with a big push toward bagless stores, it puts no effort into reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Posted inNews + Opinion
Dual methodologies
Your investigation of how the sewage plant broke was an interesting read. The criticisms over a one-step design/build contract versus a more common two-step design-then-construct process were not fair, as each method has its strengths and weaknesses. Proponents and detractors of each method exist with no side being able to claim that it is a paragon of excellence. It should be pointed out that municipal representatives would have been able to review, comment and ask for changes in the design. This would have been documented and come at a price, but it was obviously not a serious enough concern of
Posted inNews + Opinion
The operational loop
I disagree with the Toronto engineer’s negative view of traditional design/build public projects. However, I agree with the comment that “either way…” the “operations guys must be involved in the design process.” That, to my mind, is the key point of the whole article. To reiterate, it is not that the design/build process is necessarily […]