An apparent stumble from Premier Iain Rankin turned out to be less of a political hit because of the actions of a (now) former Progressive Conservative MLA. From the border restrictions to the highway blockade and the ouster of Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, it was quite a week in politics. And I had the chance to sit down and dissect it with Chronicle Herald political reporter Francis (Frank) Campbell.
A virtual forum on Thursday evening is the latest episode in a series called Speak Truth to Power at Dalhousie University. The organizers pulled this discussion together after the announcement of the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found at a former Residential School in Kamloops. The discussion is called "They Found Us and We Are Coming Home: The Truth about Residential Schools". It is even more heartbreaking given the revelation out of Saskatchewan of another 751 unmarked graves at ano...
There's been frustration and confusion over border restrictions in the Atlantic bubble. And for one PEI politician, it's past time for the four premiers to coordinate. As Gord McNeilly says, we've all been following the rules and now we should have rules that are easy to follow.
The power was out for a while Tuesday morning in Dartmouth. And the reliability of the grid has brought consistent complaints over the last few years. So has the promise by political parties to do something about high rates and the lack of competition. Claudia Chender is the NDP Energy spokesperson as well as the MLA for Dartmouth South. Here's what she has to say about the politics of power.
On National Indigenous People's day, a ceremony was held in the South End of Halifax to rededicate Peace and Friendship Park. It was a recommendation to honour Mi'kmaq heritage on a spot that had been named for the British founder of Halifax. Lawyer and Mi'kmaq language specialist Jarvis Googoo, says treaty education is important. And he shares his thoughts on cancelling Canada day as we work towards reconciliation.
Ken Gordon died in an accident on the side of Highway 103 in March of 2017. In the months following his passing, his then 10-year old son had asked what they were going to do with his clothes. That's when Matthew and his mother Lorna started a campaign to help others in need. And that has turned into clothes for people fighting addictions through Salvation Army and a bi-weekly support group in Tantallon.
Darren Hudson is a world-champion log roller and a professional lumberjack. Recently he found three abandoned baby crows while he was working in Shelburne County. He's now rehabilitating them and he's found they are keen to learn how to log roll with him at his property in Barrington.
A recent opinion poll by Narrative Research has the Iain Rankin and the Liberals ahead by a significant amount. Whether or not this turns into a majority government for the new premier is another discussion. And that is what I had with Dr. Lori Turnbull a political scientist with Dalhousie University and with Dr. Tom Urbaniak, Professor of Political Science at Cape Breton University.
Year end numbers back up the narrative that Nova Scotians were consuming more alcohol and cannabis during the pandemic. Beverly Ware is a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. She discusses the impact on local producers with the growth of the craft beer, wine, spirits and cannabis industries in the province. She also talks about the messaging behind the responsible consumption program called Cheers to Good Choices.
On June 12th, the group representing physicians in Nova Scotia elected a new executive and Dr. Heather Johnson was installed as president. We discuss the challenges the pandemic has presented along with the benefits and downsides of virtual care. And we also talk about the 65-thousand Nova Scotians still in need of a family doctor.
May was Lyme Disease Awareness month. And just because we've flipped the calendar, we can't let our guard down against ticks and tick-borne illness. Donna Lugar has been educating Nova Scotians about the disease for almost as far back as she was diagnosed with it. Today, the Government of Canada released a new video on how to safely remove a tick, a project Donna helped with.
A recent obituary on SaltWire.com highlighted one man's last wishes to have his remains donated to science. Every year, there are about 150 families who see their loved ones taking part in a program that dates back to the 19th Century. Robert Sandeski is the manager of the Human Body Donation Program at Dalhousie University. He explains the origins, the process, presumed organ donation and why this is vital for education.
Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency are about to take delivery of their newest piece of equipment, a Canadian-built Firestorm 36 fire boat. An operation review in 2018 recommended the purchase of a new piece of equipment to help with firefighting and rescue work on the water and along the shore. The 36-foot aluminum craft comes in at a cost of about 1.25 million dollars and has a 30-year life expectancy. Deputy Chief of Operations Peter Andrews talks about Fire Boat 1 and it's name, Kjipuktuk.
Earlier this year, Halifax Public Libraries acquired a controversial book called Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters. The Library Board decided to keep the book on its shelves, in spite of protests from the LGBTQ+ community. Dartmouth mom, Reverend Kim Curlett speaks about her son Miles and his journey of awakening. And we also hear from Floyd Blaikie, a board member with Hal-Con. They've cancelled events with the library this year out of support for gender minoriti...
He was known across Atlantic Canada for his weekly gas price predictions. But he was also a passionate politician and an ardent hockey fan. It was a shock to learn over the weekend that George Murphy had passed away, at the age of 58. He spoke with Sheldon back in March about how predicting fuel prices became his hobby and his passion, in part because an oil executive told him it was none of his business 25 years ago.
SaltWire is blessed to feature the work of two very talented editorial cartoonists. Whether it's reflecting the sadness of the Residential School legacy or the fight for political change, these two are ready to speak truth to power. Bruce MacKinnon and then Michael deAdder on their role in shaping opinion and holding up a mirror to our society.
Professional hockey is obviously a physical game and injuries are a part of it. But sometimes the level of violence transcends what would be expected, even in a Stanley Cup playoff series. SaltWire Sports Reporter Willy Palov discusses the hit on Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens and the way the NHL is dealing with Winnipeg's Mark Scheifele.
The National Advisory Committee on Immunizations has changed its guidelines on mixing and matching the different types of vaccine available to Canadians. Researchers at Dalhousie University have done a pilot study on the efficacy of using an mRNA vaccine for people who first had the viral vector vaccine, AstraZeneca. Doctor Chris Robinson describes how jellyfish helped in their study and why mixing the two types could give the best of both worlds.
A committee that was struck last November has presented its recommendations to government to address the housing crisis in Nova Scotia. Ren Thomas is the Co-chair of the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission. And she shares her thoughts on how the 17 recommendations can address the challenges in both the short and long term.
Troubled but well-meaning people are changing their social media profile pictures as government buildings are lowering their flag to half mast out of respect for the 215 young lives lost. What is the impact on First Nations communities to the recent discovery of the remains of 215 children at a former Residential School? Patricia Doyle-Bedwell is a Mi’kmaq woman, lawyer and writer. Derek Lewis is a Mi’kmaq man, entrepreneur and former Millbrook resident.
The pandemic has impacted many people in community and has put a strain on resources. LakeCity Works, a Dartmouth-based social enterprise has received a total of $90,000 in grants from Co-operators Community Funds (CCF) over the last three years. The money has been able to help enhance the employability and well-being of people living with mental illness in the community. I spoke with Liam O'Rourke, Executive Director LakeCity Works and Chad Park, VP Sustainability & Citizenship, The Co-oper...
A Psychology Professor from Dalhousie University says mandatory homeschooling is doing more harm than good. Dr. Simon Sherry says the policy in Nova Scotia is corroding parents’ and children’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and is impacting their relationships negatively. We discuss the issues of increased substance use and abuse by parents and his advice going forward.
It's a detailed plan called Keys to a Housing Secure Future for all Nova Scotians. It outlines 95 recommendations for the province to ensure all Nova Scotian's have access to safe, affordable housing. Cape Breton University Associate Professor Catherine Leviten-Reid was the academic lead for the Housing for All Working group. We discuss some of the objectives and objections to help make this ambitious program become reality.
An apology and a financial compensation is being offered to a Halifax man who was the victim of racial discrimination at the hands of two Halifax Police officers. Gyasi Symonds took his case to the Human Rights Board of Inquiry to bring to light the profiling and anti-black racism in policing. Robert Wright is a social worker and advocate who is also involved in a new training program for police called Journey to Change.
One in five Canadians will experience some kind of mental health problem or illness in any given year. And by the time we hit the age of forty, half of us will have, or will have already had a mental illness. Schizophrenia affects about one per cent of the Canadian population. Lesley McCuaig from Hubbards is someone who is living a life post diagnosis and is trying to let others know there is a path to recovery.
Author, musician and entertainer Alan Doyle has been waiting for the pandemic to end just like the rest of us. And in the last fourteen months he's found time to take the first summer off in his adult life and record a new folk record. We talk about mental wellness, creativity and his love of the Montreal Canadiens.
The latest provincial lock-down is impacting many Nova Scotians who are still going to work everyday. A Halifax woman has started an online fundraising campaign to randomly give $500 to front line workers across HRM. Eventually Sarah Dobson and the others behind HaliFunds want to reach out and give to others across Nova Scotia.
May 21 is Endangered Species Day and May 22 is International Day for Biodiversity. Both of these give people a day to focus communications and actions on these subjects. And that's something we discuss with Karen McKendry, Wilderness Outreach Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre.
More and more young people are misusing prescription over the last decade, resulting in addictions and in some cases lethal consequences. Of any age group, 15 to 25-year-olds are the most likely to misuse prescription drugs but there hasn't been a lot of research on who is most at risk. A new study at Dalhousie University looked at personality types and whether they could indicate who is most at risk of prescription drug misuse. Dr. Sherry Stewart is one of the authors of this new study and is a...
The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has issued an injunction to give powers of arrest for police ahead of a planned public protest on Citadel Hill on the weekend. And even though police say it was needed to help enforce public health guidelines, a group of people in support of Palestine were ticketed for protesting inside their vehicles at Inglis and Tower Road. Internet and Privacy expert David Fraser discusses the right to protest, the powers of the injunction and the intersection of free speech and...
