Two words that should never be spoken in polite company are now the planet’s nightmare: president Trump. Is that extreme? I hope so. Although like they say, hope for the best, plan not to visit the States for a while. At its greatest, America as a country was an inspiration for the rest of the […]
Politics
Posted inNews + Opinion
Your stake in the US election
If you’re anything like everyone, you’ve been paying attention to the American presidential election. You may even be thinking about it more than the municipal campaign that is currently peaking in Halifax, where official voting day is, as you almost totally definitely know, this Saturday, October 15. Technically it’s not good to care about another […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Cecil Clarke talks Nova Scotia’s future
[Image-1] Politicians and bureaucrats are gathering this weekend May 4 to 6 in a Greenwich inn for the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities’ seasonal meeting. Items on the agenda include the “strategic” spending of infrastructure money collected from taxpayers, and a report from the organization’s current president, mayor Cecil Clarke of the Cape Breton Regional […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Liz Rowley’s grand Canadian tour
[Image-1] This May Day, Liz Rowley will be standing at Grand Parade in solidarity with labourers and against capitalism. Rowley has a long history of social activism. She also happens to be the new leader of the Communist Party of Canada. “It’s a whole different agenda here that we’re fighting for—a people’s agenda. We want […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Waye Mason says HRM needs a lobbyist registry
[Image-1] In this week’s cover story, The Coast looks at whether HRM needs a lobbyist registry to curb conflicts of interest. Municipal registries documenting when consultants and developers meet with councillors are on the rise across Canada, but there are arguments for and against one being installed in Halifax. Waye Mason, councillor for the downtown […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Meet Nova Scotia’s first Mi’kmaw child welfare specialist
[Image-1] These days, Natalie Doucette has been on the road more than she’s used to. With 24 years of experience working with Mi’kmaw Family and Children’s Services under her belt, Doucette recently became the province’s first Mi’kmaw child welfare specialist. Doucette’s work includes a regular commute between offices in Sydney and the Mi’kmaq community of […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
So you think you can lead the NDP?
[Image-1] It hasn’t been an easy road for Nova Scotia’s NDP. They went from forming the first NDP government in the Atlantic provinces in 2009, to collapsing in 2013, to a six-member caucus and third-place status behind the governing Grits and official opposition Conservatives last year. This weekend New Democrats will gather in Dartmouth to […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
More women are needed in municipal politics
[Image-1] The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities says women should represent at least 30 percent of elected members of local governments. City councillors Jennifer Watts and Barry Dalrymple—both not re-offering in next year’s municipal election—recently stated HRM’s council needs younger, more diverse voices. A free, municipal “campaign school” this Saturday at Mount Saint Vincent University […]
Posted inArts + Music
Stephen Harper’s war against the arts
“Country roads take me home, to the place I belong, West Alberta, Mountain momma,” belts Stephen Harper, his Kermit The Frog-esque voice going flat when the notes escape him, stage lights dancing off his Lego-like coif, at last year’s Conservative Christmas party. Bopping his chin robotically, he also busts into a nasally rendition of Guns […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Friday’s 6 things you need to know
1 At last, Peter MacKay is leaving politics. At least that’s what the Nova Scotian justice minister is expected to announce today at 5pm. But then the chronically sexist fan of helicopters isn’t known for doing what he says he’s going to. 2 Speaking of the former defence minister, the Irving shipyard is finally getting […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Howard Epstein knows what killed the NDP
[Image-1] A former backbencher and an ex-Halifax council member, retired politician Howard Epstein has now published a political memoir, Rise Again: Nova Scotia’s NDP on the Rocks. Among other things, Epstein’s book is the former MLA’s account of the New Democrats’ sole term in office before being knocked back to third-party status in the 2013 […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
The Ivany Report Report: Chapter one
[Image-1] If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. —Maya Angelou Economic renewal reports in Nova Scotia come and go, but the Ivany commission’s findings have generated lasting buzz. The commissioners’ report, which has vocal supporters and critics, spawned an all-party committee of politicians, businesspeople and others. Called […]