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 […]
Robie Street is about to become a construction nightmare
Morning File, Monday, July 9, 2018
News 1. The border Writes Stephen Kimber: In the past month, U.S. Customs and Border Protection stopped 21 vessels in the Gulf of Maine “looking for illegal immigrants.” Illegal immigrants? From Canada? Or should that be to Canada? Click here to read “Donald Trump and the border: He stands on guard for he.” This article […]
The contradiction of being Councillor Cleary
Shawn Cleary is the chief flag-waver for the city's most unpopular high-rise proposal — and its developer. But he refuses to accept campaign donations from developers, and is promoting municipal campaign finance reform. He dismisses the significance of the fact the developer's chief lobbyist is a good friend, yet he is spearheading a proposal for a municipal lobbyist registry. Only in Halifax you say...
“We don’t build buildings because of public opinion. We build them for good planning… And so I think this is a good thing for us… In terms of the design, I think we’ve mitigated most of the concerns…” —Councillor Shawn Cleary June 19, 2018 Shawn Cleary’s suitcase of sophistry requires a little unpacking. Councillor Cleary […]
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 […]
The people lobbying the province for a stadium aren’t registered as lobbyists
Morning File, Friday, June 15, 2018
News 1. Stadium lobbyists aren’t registered as lobbyists Canadian Press reporter Judy Owen caught up with CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie at the Winnipeg–Edmonton game last night (Edmonton prevailed, 33-30), and Ambrosie went on about the possibility of a Halifax team: “The conversations between ourselves and the Maritime Football group continue,” Ambrosie said. “We’re doing work on their business […]
We’re watching Mark Lever destroy journalism in Nova Scotia
Morning File, Thursday, May 31, 2018
News 1. Fool’s Gold, Part 3 We’ve published the third instalment of Joan Baxter’s “Fool’s Gold” series. Part 3 looks at the provincial Department of Natural Resource’s efforts to open the Cobequid Hills up to gold production, and the effect prospecting and potential mining would have on the French River, which is the source of […]
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 […]
Polishing a turd: Mayor Mike Savage says the fiscal disaster of the convention centre is a “good news story”
Morning File, Wednesday, April 11, 2018
News 1. Densely calculated density In a Herculean reporting effort, Jennifer Henderson dives deep into the Centre Plan and what it means in terms of the dollar values in the deals the city makes with developers. In particular: In return for “public benefits” — affordable housing units, public art, and the like — the city […]
How a mom got caught up in the Ivany Report’s contradictions: Morning File, Wednesday, February 28, 2018
News 1. Spaceport I’ve been fascinated by the proposal to launch rockets from Canso. A spaceport is of the ilk of flashy megaprojects that through the decades have been sold to Nova Scotians as the route out of their economic malaise and into riches, but which oh so often have just dragged the province further […]
The Cornwallis statue and manufactured history: Morning File, Monday, January 29, 2018
News 1. Baillie resignation “While the Conservative response to the sexual harassment allegations against Jamie Baillie represents progress of a sort, there are still lessons we can learn from what the party did — and didn’t do — in this case,” writes Stephen Kimber. Click here to read “The PC party’s response to the Baillie […]