News 1. SIRT is not equipped to investigate rape by cops The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) is tasked with investigating police, but it has no written policies for preserving rape kit evidence and its investigators have no specialized training in dealing with victims of sexual assault. Reporter Maggie Rahr brings us the case of […]
The Innovation Hub of Nova Scotia: the “biomass” company you’ve probably never heard of
The Innovation Hub of Nova Scotia (branded as the Nova Scotia Innovation Hub) is a non-profit corporation which includes a mix of the largest private companies in the province as well as participation by provincial and federal governments. You have probably never heard of it. Its mission is find and financially assist companies interested in...
The economic development grift, Cape Breton edition
Morning File, Thursday, May 23, 2019
News 1. Health Authority “For the first time since the McNeil government dismantled nine regional health authorities and created one provincial agency to run hospitals four and a half years ago, the Nova Scotia Health Authority opened a portion of one of its Board meetings to the public,” reports Jennifer Henderson: Yesterday’s meeting took place […]
Telling the story of Glen Assoun’s wrongful conviction: we need your help
Morning File, Wednesday, April 17, 2019
1. Armoured vehicle This is a short Morning File today because I was busy at court most of the day yesterday (see below) and because I’m kind of riled up about the city’s purchase of an armoured vehicle for the police. I wrote a little Twitter rant about the latter while I was eating dinner […]
We have no idea how many innocent people are sitting in Canadian prisons
Morning File, Thursday, July 5, 2018
News 1. ExxonMobil continues plans to shutter the offshore Yesterday, ExxonMobil asked the Utilities and Review Board (UARB) for permission to shut down and abandon its Point Tupper Fractionation Plant. This follows a March application to the National Energy Board to close and abandon the Goldboro Gas Plant. ExxonMobil says the Sable Offshore Energy Project (SOEP) is “in […]
Business Roundup: spooky hypnotist guy, Yoda, and more beer
I’ve decided to rename this weekly feature “Business Roundup” because I’m doing more than just listing new company and society registrations. This week, for example, I’m following up on a couple of previous registrations and am listing more ACOA awards. I have other ideas as well, but they’ll have to wait. New company & society registrations...
Selfie-level politics: Examineradio, episode #97
On this week’s episode we speak with editor and former provincial NDP candidate Abad Khan about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Halifax this week. Why was the municipal government involved – and how much did it cost City Hall? Would there have been this level of involvement if Mayor Mike Savage wasn’t a former Liberal MP? […]
Bad attitude: Morning File, Friday, September 23, 2016
News Views Noticed Government On campus In the harbour Footnotes News 1. Matthew Hines “Correctional Service Canada has fired one staff member and disciplined three others after an inmate was beaten and repeatedly pepper-sprayed at a New Brunswick prison before his death,” report Karissa Donkin and Joan Weeks for the CBC: The top correctional official in […]
Chronicle Herald fails to declare columnist’s conflict of interest
By publishing a business column without revealing the financial interests the columnist has with the companies he writes about, the Chronicle Herald is in clear violation of widely accepted ethical rules in journalism. Peter Moreira writes the “Entrevestor” column for the Chronicle Herald. The column appears three times a week, and profiles start up companies. Moreira also...
Two decades of world-class delusion
How Halifax’s big dreams have become a nightmare, and what needs to happen to make the city a great place to live. by Tim Bousquet This article was awarded the gold medal for Commentary at the 2013 Atlantic Journalism Awards. It was first published in The Coast, on July 11, 2013. After “drop the bomb,” […]