News 1. Habeas Corpus Five prisoners at the Burnside jail filed more habeas corpus applications last week, claiming that they were inappropriately kept in lockdown for up to four days. As has become typical, by the time the habeas applications could make their way to a court hearing before a judge, four of the prisoners […]
Postmedia CEO Paul Godfrey was paid $5 million in 2018, but says his company is so broke it needs public subsidies
Morning File, Wednesday, November 28, 2018
News 1. Legacy media: CEO compensation and public subsidies Yesterday, Postmedia released its Management Information Circular in preparation of January’s shareholder meeting; the circular shows that CEO Paul Godfrey was awarded a $1.2 million bonus on top of his $1.2 million dollar salary in 2018, and with stock options brought in over $5 million in […]
The Centre Plan, affordable housing, and the Willow Tree
Affordable housing, anyone? After nearly two years of promising to do something about it, the City’s draft Centre Plan being discussed at a series of public meetings and online could actually deliver some of the 5,000 units promised by 2021. That is, if — and it’s a big IF — HRM regional council approves and...
George Armoyan is playing Halifax council like a fiddle
Morning File, Monday, March 26, 2018
News 1. Founders Square “On Friday morning, the janitors who clean Founders Square held a press conference and rally outside the building,” writes El Jones: As explained in the press release sent to the media by Darius Mirshahi, an organizer with Justice 4 Janitors: Cleaners at Founders Square in downtown Halifax are alleging racial discrimination against […]
Can we trust the Armoyans to act in the public interest?
No. That's not their job. But it is councillors' job. Their eagerness last week to say yes to the Armoyan scheme to trade approval of a 25-storey tower for a few affordable housing baubles tells you more than you want to know about council oversight.
Last week’s lopsided Halifax city council decision to decide not to decide — for now — how to respond to APL Property’s proposal to erect a taller-than-OK 25-storey tower at the corner of Quinpool Road and Robie Streets was interesting for all sorts of reasons. Before we wander into that thicket, however, a little history....
Taking it to the bank: Morning File, Thursday, January 18, 2018
News 1. Melford Mary Campbell discusses the business case for the proposed Melford Terminal on the Strait of Canso. Campbell was contacted by Richie Mann, the former MLA who now runs “government relations” for Melford International Terminal Inc, and the two had an interesting discussion about the differences between the proposed Sydney terminal and the proposed Melford […]
Majority come out against a Willow Tree high-rise
The public was heard last night on the proposed 20-storey (and still, somehow, possible 25-storey) tower at the northwest corner of the Willow Tree intersection in Halifax. Councillors spent about four hours hearing from the project developer and just over 40 people, with many more people filling up the gallery and an overflow viewing room...
Ghosts, Sara Corning, and Biafran refugees: New company & society registrations
Dragonfly Haven Therapeutic Farm Mount Denson Nature of business: “One on one interaction with miniature farm animals.” Partners: Charlotte Paul and Howard Zwicker It’s sort of like a puppy room, but on a farm. Clerisy Production Services, Inc. Dartmouth Directors: Dale Stevens, Annie Mae Stevens Dale Stevens has a long resumé, including a stint as vice-president...
The Grafton Street Glory Hole and other obscenities: Morning File, Wednesday, October 5, 2016
News Views Noticed Government On campus In the harbour Footnotes News 1. Convention centre opening delayed… again The Halifax Convention Centre will not open as scheduled on April 1. A new opening date has not yet been established, but Trade Centre Limited is rescheduling conventions booked through the end of June; seven national and international conventions […]
The “elites” justify themselves: Morning File, Tuesday, September 27, 2016
News Views Noticed Government On campus In the harbour Footnotes News 1. The “elites” justify themselves I attended the Dalhousie Senate meeting yesterday so I could hear president Richard Florizone justify the $300,000 trip by self-styled “elites” to MIT. In a response to questions by Senator Françoise Baylis, Florizone said the “REAP” trip was justified […]