Earlier this week, we looked at the proposed vaccination passport through the lens of a bioethisist. Today, we have a chance to discuss the issue as it applies to privacy. And not only is the Nova Scotia Liberal party discussing one for our province, the Federal Liberals are talking about one for international travel. For his thoughts, I spoke with McInnes Cooper lawyer David Fraser, known as an expert in privacy law.
With less than a week to go until Nova Scotia elects a new government, the race has gotten a lot closer. Polling company Narrative Research has released its Atlantic Quarterly results on voters intentions and satisfaction with government performance. And after four consecutive quarters of strong numbers, the Liberal support appears to have slipped. Margaret Brigley is the CAO of Narrative Research and she explains the numbers and why she thinks we are heading towards a minority government.
The majority of people who are fully immunized are likely to tell you their vaccination status. But for those who can't or won't take the shot, it's a different story. The promise to look into a Vaccine Passport by Liberal leader Iain Rankin has moved the topic from public health into the political world. And for Bioethisist and Dalhousie Professor Francoise Baylis, there are compelling reasons to have tough conversations before moving ahead with this plan.
Health care always ranks as one of the most important issues at the ballot box. And with the election next week, the Nova Scotia Health Coalition is trying to help voters understand where the parties stand on the issue. The not-for-profit agency says instead of sending out a questionnaire and writing a report, they've come up with something different this time. Provincial Coordinator Chris Parsons discusses the voter's tool kit resource, and shares his thoughts on vaccine passports.
When the election is over, the new government will have only a few weeks to put a back to school plan in place. And while Ontario has addressed issues like masking and class sizes, Nova Scotians are still wondering what will happen. Paul Wozney is the President of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and says there are many unanswered questions and challenges for which ever party forms government after August 17th.
A group of environmentalists lost in their application to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court to have a judicial review of a decision to delist Owls Head as a provincial park. They also wanted to challenge the government's decision to offer the 285 hectares of land to be developed into a golf course along the Eastern Shore. In her ruling, the Justice said “[I]f a remedy is sought by the public, the proper recourse in our constitutional democracy is not through the courts, but at the ballot box.” Jamie...
Emancipation Day is being recognized officially for the first time this year by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. It commemorates the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that became law across the British Empire, including Canada on August 1st, 1834. That's the time when the practice of slavery officially ended for millions of African people and their descendants in Canada and around the world. Earlier this year I had the honour of speaking to this important step with two women with a great d...
There were no knockout punches or major gaffes during the first televised leader's debate. And that likely will mean there won't be a huge change in anyone's voting intentions with three weeks left in the Nova Scotia election campaign. For analysis and insight, I sat down with Dalhousie Political Scientist Dr. Lori Turnbull to discuss the performance of Iain Rankin, Tim Houston and Gary Burrill and the possibility of a minority government being elected.
There are fewer than three weeks to go until election day in Nova Scotia. And with the leader's set to debate the issues, there are groups taking the time to evaluate the platforms and the policies of the parties. Alec Stratford is the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW). That group regulates the profession of social work in the province. He joins me to discuss mental health services and how the parties stack up.
There have been promises made in the current election campaign that could impact the fire service in Nova Scotia. And there are policies and promises from other campaigns that have either not happened or have not been fully implemented. For his perspective on what you should be asking the candidates, I spoke with Doctor Will Brooks. He is an amateur historian, retired psychologist and educator who is a former firefighter. He also Founder of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
According to an Angus Reid survey, 75 percent of the people who are unvaccinated don't think it's appropriate to ask people about their vaccination status. More than half of the people with one or more shots say it's perfectly fine to ask. And when it comes to vaccine passports, two thirds of the people who responded, support them for large public events. Those are the issues we take up with Dalhousie University's Wayne MacKay, Constitutional Law Expert and Professor Emeritus of the Schulich Sch...
The Liberal Candidate being told to step aside because of online images has revived the conversation about sexuality and double standards. Meredith Ralston is a professor of women's studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She researches women in politics and has written a book called Slut-Shaming, Whorephobia, and the Unfinished Sexual Revolution.
Health care is a common election campaign topic in Nova Scotia. And the head of the Union Representing Paramedics is hoping it becomes a doorstep issue. Michael Nickerson is the Business Manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 727. He and I spoke about #CodeCritical, the Fitch Report and the letter writing campaign that was just launched.
Jerry Granelli was famous around the world for being part of the soundtrack for the Charlie Brown Christmas special as a member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. The jazz drummer was also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had performed with performers like Sly Stone and The Grateful Dead. He had been living and performing in Halifax since the late 1980's. He passed away this week at the age of 80. Award winning Cape Breton-based musician Keith Mullins shares his thoughts and memories of t...
There's no question that seniors are among the most engaged citizens politically. And Bill VanGorder has been actively involved in making sure their voices are being heard. He is the Past Chair and Senior spokesperson with the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP NS). He tells us about the results of a snap survey they did with their members just as the Liberal leader was calling the election on the weekend.
It's going to be a four week election campaign in a State of Emergency and during our pandemic recovery. No one was surprised by the election call for the 31 day campaign that will have us voting on August 17th. Cape Breton University Political Scientist Tom Urbaniak discusses Tuesday elections, voter turnout and the challenges of getting people's attention in the middle of the summer.
Now that enough of us have been vaccinated for the province to ease some of the pandemic restrictions, some tough conversations need to happen. If you've had your shots, you're probably willing to tell others. While not everyone is able to take the vaccine, others are refusing them. The question that looms is whether vaccine passports are ethical and appropriate on a global scale. Dr. Robert Huish is an associate professor in the Department of International Development Studies Faculty of Arts an...
We've heard from the politicians about the promises they are making as they spend our dollars. It's important to hear from others who know about the impact it will have on families and children. The Early Learning and Child Care announcement this week happened at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. That facility is home to the Child Study Centre. It's also where Dr. Christine McLean is an associate professor and an expert in the field of early childhood education specifically in the areas...
Sean McMullen is a photographer and a diver who has uncovered a lot of old bottles and other things in the waters of Nova Scotia. He documents his finds on his YouTube Channel, Saltwater Sean. Last weekend while snorkelling under the overpass in Fall River between Lake Fletcher and Lake Thomas. he was shocked by what he spotted on the murky bottom. He discusses his find and how the RCMP reacted when he called to report he'd located an old, rusty sawed-off shotgun.
The African Nova Scotian Justice Institute was launched a year ago. But this week, the provincial government made a commitment of $4.8-million in funding for the next three years to address over-representation and anti-Black racism in the justice system. There will be eight-justice related support, research and outreach programs that will be fully staffed and offering services within a year. Robert Wright is a Halifax-based social worker. He's also a member of the group that will be leading the ...
Saying it was always part of the dream, Souls Harbour Rescue is opening their 5th location in Nova Scotia. The home to benefit women and single moms with their children is in rural Halifax Regional Municipality. The exact location is confidential. In the 10 years since opening a shelter for homeless men in Halifax, they've expanded to cover Bridgewater and Truro and now along the Eastern Shore. CEO Michelle Porter discusses how this latest endeavour got started, who they want to help and how the...
As part of a multi-year plan, the Nova Scotia government says it will add 264 new beds in Central Zone and replace 1,298 beds at 14 nursing homes and three residential care facilities across the province. They say the first project is expected to be finished by 2026-2027. And that's not good enough according to the MLA for Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage. Barbara Adams is a physiotherapist by training and is the Progressive Conservative who looks at the policies for Seniors, Homecare and Long-Term ...
It was a tough week politically for Iain Rankin, and the week's not over yet. Some people are angry at the media for continuing to ask questions about the way the Nova Scotia Premier disclosed his drinking and driving conviction from almost 20 years ago. What impact will this have on the Liberal Leader's chances in a summer election campaign and potentially on voter turnout. Dr. Lori Turnbull is a political scientist with Dalhousie University and we explore that in this conversation.
Nova Scotia's Auditor General has nine recommendations for the government in her report on the Implementation of Pre-Primary in 2017. The program was a campaign promise by Stephen McNeil and his Liberal Party ahead of the provincial election that year. Kim Adair-MacPherson says she has concerns with the way it was put into action saying there wasn't enough of a plan four years ago. What lessons are there for future governments when it comes to election platforms and policy promises?
Halifax Regional Municipality issued a statement today on the plan to remove temporary shelters from Municipal property in a weeks time. These crisis shelters were erected by a group of volunteers known as Halifax Mutual Aid (HMA). When the first ones went up, the group said it was taking action because the municipality was taking too long. First I spoke with spokesperson Campbell McClintock, a volunteer with HMA. I then spoke with HRM spokesperson Laura Wright about why they are taking this act...
On the same day Premier Iain Rankin was thanking Nova Scotia health care workers for helping administer 1-million vaccine doses, workers are voting to strike. To find out what is happening with the relationship with the Liberal government and these employees, I spoke with two guests. The first is NDP Leader Gary Burrill. The second is NSGEU President Jason MacLean.
Fiona Kirkpatrick Parsons is willing to be the kind of resource that helps bring us closer to reconciling our past, present and future. She is a Cree woman who is on a path to help Canadians become better allies to Indigenous peoples. She took some time before July 1st to come up with an image that helps reflect the way she and others are feeling around Canada and the Residential School legacy. We also discuss Canada Day, educational resources and an upcoming announcement for the rescheduling of...
A ceremony and commemorative event is being held at 1pm on July 1st in Halifax. It will begin in the south end of the city in a space that was recently renamed Peace and Friendship Park. The two organizers of the event say it's a way to honour those who were recently found in unmarked graves at the sites of former Residential Schools across the country. Trevor Labrador and Caitlyn Moore share some of the details in this conversation.
It's being called a step towards the dismantling of systemic anti-black racism in Canada. on Monday, Motion 83 was adopted by the Canadian Senate to recognize August 1st as Emancipation Day in this country. Nova Scotia Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard discusses why the date is significant, and why it's important for reparations and reconciliation with African Canadians. In 2018 she introduced a private members bill looking for this date to be recognized in Canada on the anniversary of the abolition ...
There have already been more than 2-thousand online surveys filled out by people who want to discuss defunding the police in HRM. And there's still an opportunity to have your say up until June 30th. El Jones is the Chair of the subcommittee to define defunding the police for the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners. We discuss the current climate for having these conversations and the need for a variety of voices during this discussion.
