E fforts to shrink Nova Scotia’s doctor waitlist are working, but many Nova Scotians still dont have a family practioner. When Martha Mutale’s family doctor’s practice closed almost 10 years ago, she wasn’t worried. As a student, she had access to on-campus medical and counselling services, and the need for a family doctor never crossed […]
Province
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nova Scotia’s minimum wage to rise to $12.55 in April
N ova Scotia’s minimum wage will make an historic $1 leap in April, but caveats in the province’s plan will still leave Nova Scotian workers stuck in the middle of the pack. Just last year Nova Scotia’s $11 minimum wage was the lowest in the country, but the provincial government’s plans hope to knock Nova […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Eastern Shore rallies behind Owls Head parklands
More than 200 people packed into the Ship Harbour Community Centre in the afternoon on Sunday, January 26 in the latest escalation of a land-use dispute over the selling of protected Crown land to a private developer to build three golf courses—a dispute that also jeopardizes the province’s reputation as a safe place to invest. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Advocates says province’s affordable housing approach isn’t good enough
Advocates say the province is taking the wrong approach in its quest to cut homelessness and make housing more affordable. They suggest making sweeping changes to grow the non-profit housing sector. Over the next 10 years, Nova Scotia will put close to $400 million of federal and provincial dollars into affordable housing, following the tenets […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Waitlist, schmaitlist
Adam Barrett, 34, was brushing his teeth and scrolling through Facebook last week when he saw a post about Family Practice Associate’s clinic in the north end accepting new patients. After 40 minutes on hold and a couple of questions, he had a family doctor. Just like that. “It was just really dumb luck,” says […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Former employee files human rights complaint against Smith-McCrossin
Lisette Sumbu, phone to her ear, quickly finds a quiet room at her sister’s house while her brother-in-law babysits her toddler son. She’s holding it together, even belting out a hearty laugh, as she describes a tumultuous year as constituency assistant for Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin. Then her voice cracks. “It broke my heart. […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Province dreams up virtual reality hub
What with actual reality being incomprehensibly horrific, the province would like to give this virtual reality thing a try. Nova Scotia Business Inc. issued a request for proposals this week looking to create a new incubator for the “virtual, augmented and mixed reality” tech scene. The RFP isn’t for the creation of a facility itself, but […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Province passes on Bloomfield Centre
For the second time, the province of Nova Scotia won’t be buying Halifax’s Bloomfield Centre. The deteriorating former school and community centre is once again facing an uncertain future according to an update heading to Regional Council on Tuesday. Council voted last August to sell a portion of the 3.3-acre site to the provincial government […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Nova Scotia government closing the book on school boards
Nova Scotia will begin acting on recommendations made in yesterday’s “Raise the Bar” report, starting with shuttering the province’s elected school boards. The news was announced Wednesday afternoon by Zach Churchill, minister of education and early childhood development. “I thank Dr. [Avis] Glaze for her incredibly thoughtful report,” writes Churchill in a release. “She has […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Dire education report calls for an end to province’s school boards
A new government report is calling for sweeping changes to the province’s education system. Entitled Raise the Bar: A Coherent and Responsible Education Administration System for Nova Scotia, the document was assembled over the last year by international education advisor Avis Glaze. Among its 22 recommendations is a proposal to eliminate all the province’s elected […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Abdoul Abdi released from custody, still facing deportation
Abdoul Abdi is a free man, but still not a Canadian according to the federal government. Lawyer Benjamin Perryman announced on Monday that his client will be released from custody, by order of the Immigration and Refugee Board, and sent to a halfway house in the greater Toronto area while he fights to remain in […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Few surprises on Liberal’s to-do list
Now that the fall sitting is officially underway, the McNeil Liberals can start crossing off some items on their legislative to-do list. The government’s top priorities were released Friday as part of its ministerial mandate letters, outlining the duties and responsibilities the premier expects from his cabinet. Most of the tasks are copy-and-pasted straight from […]