Four images from this week's articles: Brandon Rolle, a black and while photo of John Byard and Samuel Jones II, Braxton and Bria Dort, and a woman holding a sign at a protest which says A Home is a Human Right.

Welcome to Weekend File, where you’ll find all the articles you might have missed last week. There was no article on Saturday; use the links to jump to these days:

Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday


Sunday, August 29

Premier designate Tim Houston speaks at a press conference.

1. When developers and landlords speak, Tim Houston listens

Stephen Kimber reviewed Premier-elect Tim Houston’s comments over the last number of months to find out how closely Houston’s listening to developers in the province. Kimber determined it’s likely too closely. If you recall, Houston, who’s opposed to rent control, said at his first post-election press conference,  “I have calls from people who have lost their rental because of rent control.

An aerial shot of a bright yellow pool of tailings that appear to be leaking out of a storage pond.2. Updated: Photos suggest that there is a tailings leak at Atlantic Gold’s Moose River gold mine

Joan Baxter reports on photos that surfaced on social media that appeared to show a tailings leak at the Moose River gold mine on the Eastern Shore. A spokesperson with Atlantic Gold said “there is no leak of any kind occurring,” but Baxter spoke with an independent expert who said the orange coloration in the photo “is worrisome to me.”


Monday, August 30

Empty dish soap bottles lined up in front of a pristine waterfall.1. Morning File: Don’t go putting soap in waterfalls

A social media stunt that’s been around for years made its way to Nova Scotia. People are putting dish soap into waterfalls and natural watercourses. While the bubbles look fun, Rent learned from Adam Malcolm at Nova Scotia Species at Risk that soap can harm fish and other wildlife.

Sweet Daddy Siki & Bret “Hitman” Hart2. Black News File

Matthew Byard’s latest Black News File had stories on a Nova Scotia Supreme Court decision on the use of Impact of Race and Culture Assessments (IRCAs), assault charges against New Glasgow mayor Nancy Dicks, and a piece on Canadian wrestling legend Sweet Daddy Siki. Byard also found a story about Jollytown written by Ashley Sutherland, an archivist for the Colchester Historteum, and found his grandfather in one of the photos.

Three people sit smiling on scaffolding in front of a fresh mural.3. Celebrating environmental activism with art

This year, the Ecology Action Centre is celebrating its 50th anniversary. To honour the occasion, EAC got together with Nova Scotia artists to create an interactive app called 50 Things. Yvette d’Entremont learned all about it.

a mockup of a coronavirus, red and white, on a black background

4. 31 cases of COVID-19 over 3 days announced on Monday, August 30

It looked like a lot of cases, but remember it was a three-day total. Tim Bousquet had the report.

An older man with gray hair and a grizzled chin smiles in the bright sunshine.

5. Nova Scotia fighting to evict 63-year-old man with terminal cancer from public housing

Zane Woodford had another story in our series, PRICED OUT: Addressing the Housing Crisis. In this story, Woodford learned about Blair Raoul who has terminal cancer and is living in public housing in Dartmouth. But Raoul is about to be evicted.


Tuesday, August 31

A closeup of a nurse's hand holding a vaccine syringe.1. Morning File: Antivaxxers getting COVID might not result in the schadenfreude we imagine

Tim Bousquet wrote that it’s “ungenerous” to want people to get sick with COVID, even if they rally against vaccines and public mandates that could protect them. Bousquet wrote: “I don’t know who deserves what, but I do know I don’t want these people to suffer.”

Premier Tim Houston2. New government installed

Tim Houston was sworn in as Nova Scotia’s 27th premier and the new cabinet ministers were announced. Bousquet was at the press conference after the swearing-in ceremony and asked Houston and John Lohr, the new Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, about rent control.

a green typewriter with the phrase COVID 19 typed on the white paper3. 3 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Tuesday, August 31

Just three new cases of COVID-19 were announced on Tuesday.


Wednesday, September 1

A protestor holds a sign which reads a home is a human right.1. Halifax council votes to use $13 million in federal money to fund 85 affordable units, pledges $500,000 in new housing spending

Almost two weeks after the eviction of homeless people and police action, there were some apologies by councillors and an announcement that new affordable housing was on the way. Zane Woodford reported on Tuesday’s day-long city council meeting.

One half of a duples, which has beige brick and red clapboard trim.2. How 27 units of affordable co-op housing in Halifax were sold off for cheap

Another story from Woodford on the housing crisis. This one on New Armdale Westside Housing Co-operative Limited’s quiet sale of some of its properties in Spryfield, all done with government approval.

Two photographs, one of a broken chair and one of a carved stick3. Morning File: The madness of the online marketplace

Ethan Lycan-Lang dug up some of the most outrageous items being sold on Halifax Buy and Sell. And he had a heartbreaking story about his family’s cabin in Echo Lake, California, which is under threat from the Caldor wildfire.

City hall on a bright summer day4. Backyard chickens, the Halifax Forum, and a football field: council round-up

Zane Woodford had all the latest from Halifax Regional Council’s meeting this week. Chickens were on the menu (I stole that line from Philip Moscovitch), as was the decision to sell of part of the Halifax forum.

Karen Oldfield5. Houston fires Nova Scotia Health Authority CEO, dissolves board

Just a day after the swearing-in ceremony, Premier Tim Houston and his party made huge changes at the Nova Scotia Health Authority with the firing of CEO Brendan Carr and its entire board. Tim Bousquet reported on the new “leadership team” that’s taking over.

Coronavirus written in white tiles on a black background6. 7 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Wednesday, September 1

Seven new cases for Wednesday.

A close up of a cardboard sign with the words permanent, safe housing, and unhoused on it.7. People’s Park: ‘None of this is sustainable’

Yvette d’Entremont interviewed Claire Chadwick, a spokesperson with P.A.D.S. (Permanent, Accessible, Dignified, and Safer) Housing Network, about the news from Halifax Regional Council on the creation of affordable housing and how it can help those currently living in “People’s Park.”


Thursday, September 2

A hospital bed in a clinic which has lavender coloured sheets on it.1. As a Canadian nurse who provides abortion care, I worry for my colleagues in Texas

Registered nurse Martha Paynter reflected on the work her colleagues in Texas are doing as Senate Bill 8 came into effect this week. Paynter wrote about the despair she felt for abortion care providers, their safety, economic security, and “immeasurable distress of not being able to help.”

A woman looks at the camera, with a breathing tube in her nose, and EKG wires taped to her upper chest.2. The Tideline, with Tara Thorne

Tara Thorne chatted with Halifax legend Jane Kansas about her new Halifax Fringe play, My Heart Attack. Fringe started on Friday and wraps up September 12. Thorne also gives her recommendations on what to see there.

a close up of an Egg McMuffin3. Morning File: Assault with a breakfast sandwich

Philip Moscovitch had so many interesting pieces in his Morning File this week, including a job posting from Armour Group, an article on how bad design can be dangerous, and lawyer Barbara Darby’s look at legal cases involving Egg McMuffins.

A very intimidating cop wearing full body armour and a helmet with the visor down, carrying a shield and baton.4. Halifax releases 2021 sunshine list: Of more than 1,000 employees making more than $100,000, 454 are police

This week, the HRM released its annual sunshine list, which includes the names of all HRM employees who make more than $100,000. And there are a lot of cops on the list this time; they make up just over 40% of it.

Coronavirus made of metal plates5. 5 new cases of COVID-19 announced in Nova Scotia on Thursday, September 2

60 known active cases in NS, but no one is in hospital with COVID-19, so there’s that.


Friday, September 3

An infographic from Pier Labs Project HALO1. Study to look at “portable” housing subsidies

Project HALO (Housing Assistance and Life Outcomes) is seeking participants for a study on how housing assistance impacts people’s housing experiences and quality of life. Yvette d’Entremont speaks with Lynn Liao, the lead investigator.

Bria and Braxton Dort, all dressed up and smiling2. Bria’s story

When he was eight years old, Braxton Dort wrote a book about his little sister, who has a rare genetic disorder. He sold enough copies of the book to raise about $2000 for the TANGO2 Research Foundation. Joan Baxter talks to Braxton and his family, and to specialists looking for a cure.

Pat Dunn3. Black community reacts to the appointment of a white Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs

Matthew Byard surveyed the reactions to Patt Dunn’s appointment, and to the dismissal of two prominent Black female non-elected officials. He also spoke to Percy Paris, the province’s first minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.

John Lohr, squinting as he explains something4. Morning File: John Lohr is the minister charged with Nova Scotia’s housing file, but doesn’t seem to comprehend the housing crisis

Tim Bousquet tried to make sense of the word salad that was John Lohr’s response when he was asked about housing costs, the perceived conflict of interest in being a landlord, and being open to all options, except the option of rent control.


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Suzanne Rent is a writer, editor, and researcher. You can follow her on Twitter @Suzanne_Rent and on Mastodon

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