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Here’s what Nova Scotia’s cabinet ministers had to say today

December 12, 2019 By Jennifer Henderson

Northern Pulp Environment Minister Gordon Wilson says he has read all 3,000 pages and “about eight binders worth” of submissions related to whether he should approve a new effluent treatment plant proposed by Northern Pulp. The new plant would replace the Boat Harbour facility which by law is scheduled to close January 31, 2020. The...

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Province House, Subscribers only Tagged With: Anthony Leblanc, Boat Harbour Act, Cape Sharp Tidal, CFL stadium, crane incident, EcoGreen Homes, housing for the disabled, Humani-T Cafe, Jen Powley, Minister Darren Mombourquette, Minister Geoff MacLellan, Minister Gordon Wilson, Minister Kelly Regan, Minister Labi Kousoulis, MLA Claudia Chender, NDP leader Gary Burrill, Northern Pulp proposal, Nova Innovation, stadium proposal, Stillwell, Thornbloom Boutique, Thumpers, tidal turbines

Northern Pulp lobbyists and the revolving door with government

December 11, 2019 By Joan Baxter 6 Comments

In February this year, Mary Campbell drew our attention to a video clip of New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known affectionately as AOC, questioning witnesses at a hearing by the US House Oversight and Reform Committee. AOC was pointing out how much members of Congress can legally get away with, even when it looks an […]

Filed Under: Environment, Featured, News, Province House Tagged With: Andrew Macdonald, Iris Communications, Jim Williams, Kirby McVicar, lobbyist, lobbyist registry, Michael Gorman, Minister Geoff MacLellan, Northern Pulp, Northern Pulp lobbyist, Trevor Floyd

Deciding Northern Pulp’s future

A tangled mess of dubious science, loans, and liabilities will determine how government officials will act in coming days — and how much it will cost Nova Scotians.

December 8, 2019 By Joan Baxter 5 Comments

Nova Scotia’s business minister Geoff MacLellan says it’s not the time to talk about all the money that Northern Pulp owes the province, and it won’t be until after environment minister Gordon Wilson makes his decision on the mill’s new effluent treatment facility on or before December 17. CBC reporter Michael Gorman notes that MacLellan […]

Filed Under: Environment, Featured, Investigation, News, Province House Tagged With: Boat Harbour, Brian Hebert, Chief Andrea Paul, Colton Cameron, Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Environment Minister Margaret Miller, Health Canada, Jim Vibert, Kathy Cloutier, Keith Doucette, Michael Gorman, Minister Geoff MacLellan, Minister Gordon Wilson, Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Northern Pulp closure, Northern Pulp focus report, Northern Pulp loans, Northern Resources Nova Scotia Corporation, Pictou Landing First Nation (PLFN), Premier G.I. Smith, Premier John Hamm, premier John Savage, Premier Rodney MacDonald, Public Services and Procurement Canada, Rachel Boomer, SaltWire, Transport Canada

The Ivany Report set a target of a $4 billion tourism industry in Nova Scotia by 2024. We’re nowhere near that. Now what?

December 3, 2019 By Jennifer Henderson

Despite making significant progress in attracting more visitors and generating $2.6 billion in revenue last year, the province’s tourism industry is still a long way from the goal of $4 billion by 2024 envisioned by the Ivany Report five years ago. “We’re updating our strategy which we are calling The Second Half,” Judy Saunders told...

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Filed Under: Featured, News, Province House, Subscribers only Tagged With: Airbnb, Boeing 737 MAX grounding, Develop NS, Donna Hatt, ghost hotels, Halifax International Airport Authority, Halifax Stanfield International Airport, high speed internet, Ivany Report, Joyce Carter, Judy Saunders, Michele Saran, Minister Geoff MacLellan, short term rentals, South Shore Lobster Crawl, Tourism, Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS), Virginia Tudor

The Lantz interchange, Richard Butts, and suburban sprawl

Morning File, Friday, June 21, 2019

June 21, 2019 By Tim Bousquet 6 Comments

News 1. Yarmouth Ferry is a bust “Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Geoff MacLellan admitted under questioning from reporters following a Cabinet meeting Thursday that the province has no idea if or when the Yarmouth ferry will operate this summer,” reports Jennifer Henderson: “Certainly we are worried about this season and our tourism operators,” said Minister […]

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Armco Capital Inc, Clayton Developments, Doug Barron, Francis Campbell, Lantz interchange, Minister Geoff MacLellan, New Riders of the Purple Surf, Richard Butts, Shaw Group Ltd, sidewalk clearing RFP, stadium, Yarmouth ferry

Yarmouth ferry may not sail this year

June 21, 2019 By Jennifer Henderson 6 Comments

Nova Scotia Business Minister Geoff MacLellan admitted under questioning from reporters following a Cabinet meeting Thursday that the province has no idea if or when the Yarmouth ferry will operate this summer. “Certainly we are worried about this season and our tourism operators,” said Minister MacLellan. “All we can say is we have done everything […]

Filed Under: Featured, News, Province House Tagged With: Alakai, Bay Ferries, David Wilkins, Minister Geoff MacLellan, PC leader Tim Houston, Premier Stephen McNeil, U.S. Customs Border Protection, Yarmouth ferry, Yarmouth ferry delay

What if we just gave Americans cash to come to Nova Scotia?

Crazy? Is it any crazier than pouring more millions of dollars into an American ferry, American docking facilities, American customs officers...?

June 16, 2019 By Stephen Kimber

Say, here’s an idea. My idea isn’t quite the Chase-the-Ace, get-us-on-national-TV, fun-and-games scheme Tim suggested a few months back. “Simply toss 20 dollar bills from a helicopter above downtown Yarmouth,” he proposed as his own common sense alternative to pouring still more millions of our tax dollars into that bottomless ocean that is our from-nowhere-to-no-way-not-now...

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Filed Under: Commentary, Featured, Province House, Subscribers only Tagged With: Bay Ferries, Bay Ferries CEO Mark MacDonald, Minister Geoff MacLellan, Nova Star, Premier Stephen McNeil, Tina Comeau, Tourism Nova Scotia, Yarmouth ferry

Bill Spurr has a terrible boss, so a puppy had to die

Morning File, Friday, June 1, 2018

June 1, 2018 By Tim Bousquet 2 Comments

News 1. Discrimination A firefighter who says her 18-year career was plagued by sexual harassment is demanding that Halifax Regional Municipality step up to resolve discrimination cases like hers that drag on for years,” reports the CBC: Kathy Symington has collected 1,400 pages documenting her sexual harassment case against Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency. She said […]

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: Aaron Beswick, Bill Spurr rages, Chris Lambie, Chris Shannon, copper thefts, Democracy Watch, Duff Conacher, Hayley Clarke, Jean Chrétien lobbying Stephen McNeil, Jeremy Fraser, John McCracken, Kathy Symington, Lori Marino, Michael Tutton, Minister Geoff MacLellan, sexual harassment Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency, sexual harassment in HRM, Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP), Theodore Thugboat, Whale Sanctuary Project

The Tideline, with Tara Thorne

Phyllis Rising — Rebecca Falvey (left) and Meg Hubley. Photo submitted

Episode #19 of The Tideline, with Tara Thorne is published.

Meg Hubley and Rebecca Falvey met as theatre kids at Neptune and have been friends ever since. As Phyllis Rising — that’s right, Mary Tyler Moore hive — they’re making films, plays, and are in production on The Crevice, a three-part sitcom streaming live from the Bus Stop in March. They stop by to talk with Tara about its development, their shared love of classic SNL and 90s sitcoms, and the power of close friendship. Plus: A new song from a new band.

This episode is available today only for premium subscribers; to become a premium subscriber, click here, and join the select group of arts and entertainment supporters for just $5/month. Everyone else will have to wait until tomorrow to listen to it.

Please subscribe to The Tideline.

Uncover: Dead Wrong

In 1995, Brenda Way was brutally murdered behind a Dartmouth apartment building. In 1999, Glen Assoun was found guilty of the murder. He served 17 years in prison, but steadfastly maintained his innocence. In 2019, Glen Assoun was fully exonerated.

Halifax Examiner founder and investigative journalist Tim Bousquet has followed the story of Glen Assoun's wrongful conviction for over five years. Now, Bousquet tells that story as host of Season 7 of the CBC podcast series Uncover: Dead Wrong.

Click here to go to listen to the podcast, or search for CBC Uncover on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast aggregator.

About the Halifax Examiner

Examiner folk The Halifax Examiner was founded by investigative reporter Tim Bousquet, and now includes a growing collection of writers, contributors, and staff. Left to right: Joan Baxter, Stephen Kimber, Linda Pannozzo, Erica Butler, Jennifer Henderson, Iris the Amazing, Tim Bousquet, Evelyn C. White, El Jones, Philip Moscovitch More about the Examiner.

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