Hi, I’m Chris Benjamin, today’s guest writer. I’m a journalist as well as a writer and editor of books — fiction and non-fiction — and the managing editor of Atlantic Books Today Magazine. Environment and social justice are my beats. News 1. Oil spills, past and present The Canadian Coast Guard is investigating what appears to […]
Despite delays, city hopes Integrated Mobility Plan will be rolling in February
"One of the smartest things Halifax is doing," says advocate
More than four months ago, Erica Butler reported that Halifax was initiating a process to create a $350,000 Integrated Mobility Plan looking at how we get around town, how we move goods around town, where we tend to live and work, and how these things shape one another. The plan will influence street and community...
Just as the world agrees to climate change action, NS Liberals impose huge cuts to solar power
How short-term energy-price politics prevent us from making real progress in the fight against climate change.
On December 14, Minister of Energy Michel Samson stood before the legislature and introduced Bill 141 – Electricity Plan Implementation Act. “Mr. Speaker,” he said, “I’m pleased to stand for a third time to speak about this important bill…The plan and this bill are built on the input and advice government received from over 1,300...
Joe Metlege’s “altruistic” conflict of interest
When the Halifax developer sits on a City Hall planning committee, is he a citizen or a stakeholder?
Is it a conflict of interest to have a large-scale developer on a city’s planning advisory committee? For context, here is what Halifax says about conflict of interest in the city’s Public Appointment Policy: Applicants should consider whether they have a real or perceived conflict of interest with a board, including direct or indirect pecuniary...
Tenants want to take over Harbour City Homes properties
Tenants of affordable housing units on Brunswick and Artz Streets delivered a letter yesterday morning to the office of Harbour City Homes, requesting minutes from a recent meeting in which the nonprofit affordable housing property manager’s Board of Directors decided to sell nine of its properties, putting 34 families at risk of losing their homes...
Enviro committee rejects PR company’s bid to poison Dartmouth’s lakes
The committee was revisiting the vexing issue of the (potentially) killer weeds. At last month’s meeting, councillors decided to delay a decision on whether to follow staff’s recommendation to mechanically harvest the weeds, one of three options considered. The others were to use pesticides or dredge the lakes. The delay was due to new information...
Dartmouth’s (potentially) killer weeds
by Chris Benjamin The most significant item up for discussion at yesterday’s Environment and Sustainability Standing Committee was the ongoing pondweed (four different kinds, all native to Nova Scotia) infestations in Lakes Banook and Mic Mac. The committee received a report from chief planner Bob Bjerke on the weed situation. The report recommends mechanically harvesting...
Something fishy: new report stops short of calling for moratorium on fish farms
by Chris Benjamin Several dozen lobster fishers, anglers, environmentalists, tourist industry representatives, and people in fishing associations gathered at the Lord Nelson Hotel Thursday afternoon for a press conference and support rally. They said they represented more than a hundred groups across Nova Scotia, and another hundred onlookers attended and cheered each speaker. A few...