News 1. Chickens and other fowl “Hesitant to settle for chickens, Halifax councillors decided to include all egg-laying fowl in the rules on backyard birds in residential areas,” reports Zane Woodford for Star Halifax: Council voted on Tuesday to tell planning staff to start drafting bylaw amendments, with only Councillor Russell Walker voting no, citing […]
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...
Yet another $9 million of public money is going to support the Yarmouth ferry
Morning File, Monday, May 6, 2019
News 1. Two protests “While officials moved quickly to respond to student protests about the cancellation of high school rugby, they were quick to erect roadblocks when students wanted to protest climate change,” notes Stephen Kimber. Click here to read “A tale of two protests.” This article is for subscribers. Click here to subscribe. 2. […]
Clearwater wins. Again. Still. Always. And forever
What began as an act of reconciliation with Canada's Indigenous peoples will likely end up as yet another "landmark" in the continuing process of corporate co-opting and colonialism.
Last week, Clearwater Seafoods Inc. released a triumphant joint statement, announcing a 50-year partnership agreement with 14 Nova Scotia and Newfoundland First Nations to benefit together from the $100-million-a-year surf clam fishery. The announcement was full of the usual bluff and bonhomie, including the requisite thank you, thank you, no, really, thank you from a...
Palace coup at Shambhala
Morning File, Thursday, February 21, 2019
News 1. John Risley’s South African adventure Sometimes I get whiff of a story and just have to dive into it. This was one of those times: On December 26, Boxing Day, I received an email with the subject line “JOHN CARTER RISLEY given his outrageous behaviour and bringing others to book in a huge […]
John Risley’s South African adventure
How did a Nova Scotia billionaire end up as the cash and clout behind an international court battle claiming a South African government-owned arms company owes hundreds of millions of dollars to an international arms dealer who claims he lost money after Nelson Mandela’s new democratically elected government refused to honour the arms dealer’s deal with the apartheid regime? How indeed?
On December 26, Boxing Day, I received an email with the subject line “JOHN CARTER RISLEY given his outrageous behaviour and bringing others to book in a huge scandal.” I quickly scanned the text of the email, and saw that, like the subject line, it contained lots of all caps, run-on sentences, and nonlinear thoughts. […]
Nova Scotia billionaire John Risley says a fast-talking man posing as a Saudi oil tycoon swindled him out of 10 million Euros
Morning File, Friday, November 23, 2018
November subscription drive Come on, surely the bit about Risley is worth a few of your dollars? Click here to subscribe. And don’t forget the party on Sunday. News 1. John Risley says he was swindled out of 10 million Euros Nova Scotia billionaire John Risley says a fast-talking man posing as a Saudi oil tycoon swindled […]
John Risley, owner of a private island and a $30 million yacht, lectures us about thrift
Morning File, Thursday, November 15, 2018
November subscription drive Have you subscribed yet? This would be an excellent time, and if you buy an annual subscription this month, we’ll mail you a Halifax Examiner T-shirt. We’ve got lots of them: Also, any subscription gets you into our subscriber party, to be held Sunday, November 25, 4–7pm at Bearly’s Tavern. The band Museum […]
John Risley is a petty and mean-spirited man
Morning File, Friday, September 28, 2018
Instead of actually working yesterday, I spent much time, probably too much time, watching the horror show down in the U.S. I don’t have anything intelligent to say about that, and can add nothing that people more qualified than me can say much better. And I got up this morning and scanned the local news […]
Which crazy religion is Halifax Mayor Mike Savage promoting this week?
Morning File, Monday, May 7, 2018
News 1. The offshore will make everyone rich Writes Stephen Kimber: “Many international companies believe we have resources off our coast that we have not tapped into,” says Premier Stephen McNeil, “and we want the ability to do so.” Forget the reality. And damn the consequences. Click here to read “Politicians’ snake oil hopes and dreams […]