As Nova Scotia’s party leaders prepare to make their closing arguments before voters head to polls on May 30, experts say one question will be key to determining whether outgoing premier Stephen McNeil’s Liberal government wins a second mandate: Will the province’s sprawling capital stay primarily red? “Halifax is pivotal,” says Dr. Jeffrey MacLeod, a […]
Liberals
Kyley Harris back on Liberals’ campaign team
Lying about an assault cost Kyley Harris his job. Three years later, he appears to have climbed back up the career ladder and is once again director of communications for the Liberals. Harris was working as communications director for the Premier’s Office in 2014 when he was charged with assault after striking a woman in […]
A long road ahead for Nova Scotians with disabilities
Nova Scotia is on its way to becoming the the third province in Canada to implement accessibility legislation, after Ontario and Manitoba. But for many living with disabilities, the act is overdue. April will mark 12 years since 40-year-old Paul Blaauw was last employed. He previously worked at a computer shop, where he enjoyed his […]
SCIENCE MATTERS: Government must do more to address First Nations’ water woes
Neskantaga First Nation in Ontario has had to boil water since 1995. “We’re over 20 years already where our people haven’t been able to get the water they need to drink from their taps or to bathe themselves without getting any rashes,” Neskantaga Chief Wayne Moonias told CBC News in 2015. Their water issues have […]
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 […]
13 facts about Justin Trudeau’s badass new cabinet
[Image-1] 1 Justin Trudeau promised gender parity in his cabinet, and today he delivered. Asked why appointing an equal number of women was important, Trudeau replied “Because it’s 2015.” For what it’s worth, writes Tasha Kheiriddin at the National Post, that’s only three more female cabinet ministers than Stephen Harper had in his last cabinet. […]
Tuesday’s rundown: 9 things you need to know in Halifax today
1Needing this so badly on this Tuesday-feels-like-Monday-tomorrow-can’t-be-Wednesday-already. Maybe you do too? When Jerry Met Kendrick. 2Our question of the day comes from commenter mira230, who wonders if anyone out there remembers BB King playing Queen Elizabeth High School back in the ‘70s. “I cannot find any record of it online, but it happened. I was […]
Haters gonna hate: NS Liberals are their own PR problem
[Image-1] It’s not a great time to be a Liberal in Nova Scotia. Online and in conversation, anger at the government is only outmatched by charges of incompetence. Every month seems to bring a new crowd of rowdy protesters down to the Legislature. In short order, Stephen McNeil’s Liberals have pissed off health care workers, […]
Joachim Stroink is a wanted man
[Image-1] Update: The posters may already be taken down. Stroink’s office called The Coast to let us know they couldn’t see any up when workers went out looking this afternoon. Well, somebody had a busy Tuesday night. Residents in the Halifax Chebucto riding were greeted today to posters demanding the capture of Liberal MLA Joachim […]
The Ivany Report Report: Chapter four
[Image-1] The future prosperity of Nova Scotia should not be sacrificed on the altar of partisan politics. —Ray Ivany It seems the few times our elected officials take a break from partisan politics are during international hockey tournaments and following the death of well-respected, famous Canadians. Not even military action or war prompts the kind […]
Students aren’t at the table—we’re on the menu.
[Image-1] The McNeil government is currently in talks with Nova Scotia’s universities for a new Memorandum of Understanding, an agreement signed every few years to set multi-year funding levels and tuition fee regulations. Regrettably, the Liberal government is blocking students from participating in the talks. Students are key stakeholders in the university system and excluding […]
The turkey rebels of Nova Scotia
[Image-1] Bria awoke. Her eyes, still fuzzy from the battle, adjusted to the small fires lighting the hall. Where was she? Underground? Dead? She remembered being on the Capital steps, the people cheering for her. She had won the Turkey Games, but it had cost so much. “Hello?” she cried out, afraid. The only replies […]

