Metro Regional Housing Authority’s pest control budget for its HRM properties is $1.4 million, but for the past two years, less than half of that amount was spent on hiring pest control companies. The 2018 federal budget gave the provincial government an additional $12.4 million for improving housing properties, but pest control budgets aren’t specifically […]
Reality Bites
Posted inNews + Opinion
Students call for Dalhousie interim president to resign
A group of about 20 Dalhousie students protested Monday afternoon at the welcome reception for the university’s new interim president and vice-chancellor, Peter MacKinnon. In a press release, the group of students say they don’t believe MacKinnon’s appointment was made with the university’s best interests in mind. “We feel the interests of faculty and students, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
More people are suing Halifax
Luckily, the city’s lawyers aren’t paid by the hour. Halifax’s legal director John Traves told council this week that his department has seen a 25 percent increase in litigation against the municipality since 2016/17. “It’s not just more numbers,” said Traves. “It’s more challenging in terms of the claims that are being brought.” The docket […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Thank you, next: The Coast’s Sex & Dating Survey
It’s time once again for The Coast’s annual Sex & Dating survey. Over 1,200 of our readers dished on their secret crushes, relationship habits and sexual fantasies in last year’s S&D issue, and we want to hear from you again! The full survey is available here. Feel free to skip over any questions that don’t […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Speeds remain steady on Gottingen
Average traffic speeds on Gottingen remain the same, and are even a tiny bit slower, now that HRM has installed the street’s much-discussed bus lane. According to the city’s own internal numbers, north-bound traffic from Uniacke to North Street is moving on average at 52 kilometres per hour. It’s the exact same speed that HRM […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
26 for 25: Holiday special
Just in time for the holidays, we’re back for one last special episode of 26 for 25. Past audience favourites Stephanie Johns and Allison Saunders join Tara and Jacob for a boozy reflection on the year 2018 in the city of Halifax. Breach teen! Agaves! Smoking bans! Chelsea Peretti! Plus, a special Christmas-rewrite of Lady […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Before the Parade to chronicle early LGBTQ+ activism in Halifax
An often overlooked chapter of Halifax’s history will be published next fall. Journalist Rebecca Rose is documenting the “narrative history of the foundations of Halifax’s queer community” in Before the Parade: Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Halifax from Nimbus Publishing. The book will focus on the city’s first generation of out lesbian, gay and bisexual elders, […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax’s bike network dream in jeopardy
Despite the best-laid plans of council, Halifax’s ambitious hope for a bike network throughout the urban core won’t be possible by 2020. In fact, based on city hall’s current budget it might not meet the original deadline of 2022 at all. “Obviously, we won’t be able to build this out to 2022 with the draft […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Arts hub gets $10 million in public funding
Looks like downtown will finally get some Culture. The Link Performing Arts Centre will receive $4.5 million in funding from the federal government. Pablo Rodriguez, minister of Canadian Heritage and Multiculturalism, made the announcement on Monday alongside Halifax MP Andy Fillmore. “The Halifax region has benefited greatly from arts and culture for many years,” Fillmore […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Slower response-time targets proposed for HRM firefighters
A staff report headed to Regional Council recommends lowering the targets for the city’s emergency response times, because the current time targets are rarely met. Halifax firefighters in urban areas are expected to respond to structural fires within seven minutes, 90 percent of the time. For rural firefighters, that target is 12 minutes. Volunteer firefighters […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Want to reduce clearcutting? Clear out Natural Resources
If the province wants to reduce clearcutting on Crown lands, first it needs to clean house over at the Department of Natural Resources. So says Raymond Plourde, wilderness coordinator for the Ecology Action Centre, who believes the current departmental leadership has lost the public’s trust. “It’s largely because of their single-minded focus on giving the […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Zero tickets so far for smoking violations
Concerns about Halifax’s draconian smoking ban may have been premature. There are precious few complaints coming into 311 about smokers, and those that have been logged with the city still haven’t resulted in any penalties. The latest figures from HRM show that 31 calls about the smoking bylaw have been made over the three-week period […]
