News 1. Spaceport “I hadn’t even made it into Canso when I happened upon the first person willing and eager to speak her mind on the proposed spaceport that Maritime Launch Services wants to construct in the picturesque community at the very end of Highway 16,” writes Joan Baxter: In a charming restaurant a few […]
An astonishing display of cowardice: city councillors are ignoring police misconduct in the Assoun case
As we are learning that the Halifax police willfully acted to keep an innocent man in prison, the politicians responsible for civilian oversight of the police department are deafeningly silent. Meanwhile, unelected bureaucrats and lawyers at City Hall have attempted to keep the police misconduct hidden by a publication ban. According to his lawyers, police […]
Redesigning the Windsor Exchange: if we get it right, it could be great
Sometimes government makes an announcement, and even though you know it’s ages from reality, and will probably be announced and re-announced many times hence, you simply can’t help but get excited at the possibilities. Such is the case with the announcement by Transport Canada earlier this month that the federal department will help fund a...
Northwest Arm ferry to launch on Tuesday
UPDATED to include actual launch times: Tuesday, June 4, 7am After a month of waiting with boat ready to go, a new ferry service across the Northwest Arm is set to begin service on Tuesday, June 4th, at 7am. David Backman will be running his new 22-foot saltwater pontoon boat from the dock near the...
Gnawing away at the vitals of this community, since 1970
Morning File, Friday, January 18, 2019
This is Erica Butler, filling in for Tim. News 1. Council defers capital budget approval As we know from last December when it first appeared on council’s agenda, Halifax’s proposed capital budget leaves A LOT out, especially just about anything to do with the city’s approved Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP), and the final years’ implementation […]
Proposed city budget pulls the wheels off bike network
I really, really wanted to write part two of the update on bikeway projects this week. But perhaps it is wiser to step back for a moment from documenting the planning progress around bike infrastructure, to consider whether or not this municipality actually has the intention to follow through and build what’s being planned. This […]
And the stadium financing cup-and-pea, smoke-and-mirrors game begins
Morning File, Wednesday, October 31, 2018
News 1. Stadium I was thinking that this morning I’d have a lot of details related to yesterday’s council’s discussion of the proposed stadium, but I’m afraid there’s not much new to report — there weren’t too many revelations yesterday. For background, read what I wrote Monday. There were, however, a lot of councillor questions […]
893 city employees make more than $100,000 annually and yet janitors cleaning city buildings are paid poverty wages
Morning File, Tuesday, August 7, 2018
News 1. Oil spill Friday morning, I criticized Nova Scotia Power (NSP) for its press release related to the oil spill from the Tufts Cove Generating Plant. The press release called it a “limited” spill; I wrote: “Limited” is PR spin. Every oil spill is “limited” in some sense — the Deepwater Horizon spill that destroyed […]
Halifax council passes stupid and overreaching cannabis restrictions
Morning File, Wednesday, July 18, 2018
News 1. Government drops effort to deport Abdoul Abdi The news was announced by Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale via a tweet at 9pm last night: The Government of Canada respects the decision filed on July 13 by the Federal Court concerning Abdoul Abdi. The Government will not pursue deportation for Mr. Abdi. — Ralph Goodale […]
Looks like we’re getting a stadium, whether we want it or not
Morning File, Wednesday, June 20, 2018
News 1. Stadium Yesterday, I went to Halifax City Hall expecting to hear councillors discuss cannabis legalization; I was preparing for a hilarious debate about the evils of smoking the ganja. But before that conversation could get going, the Maritime Football Ltd. people showed up and council kicked the public out of chambers so they […]