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Month: April 2017
News brief: Taking candy from a baby. No money for people on social assistance in this budget
People on welfare will have an even harder time making ends meet in the upcoming year, thanks to a provincial budget that ignores their plight.
Weekend video: Day of Mourning, Glenn Martin (And an op-ed about cynical politicians and bureaucrats)
This weekend we feature a video about the Westray mine disaster, in recognition of Friday’s National Day of Mourning. But it’s two for the price of one, as I also editorialize about lessons seemingly never learned, and the godawful safety record of the company that is opening the Donkin mine in Cape Breton.
No balanced budgets for people on welfare, Province House protesters say
This year’s budget may be balanced, but the a small group of people on social assistance and their allies who gathered in front of Province House wondered at what cost. Protesters hoped to talk about poverty in Nova Scotia with MLAs entering the House to take part in this afternoon’s budget discussions. Demonstrators were studiously ignored by Liberal and Conservative MLAs, while NDP MLAs stopped to chat.
Councillor must apologize to the community, the widows, the people who died, says Shelburne activist
Shelburne activist Louise Delisle says Shelburne councillor Rick Davis should issue a real and public apology to the entire Black community in town, not just post some weasel words and a lot of self pity on her personal Facebook page. Meanwhile people elsewhere are speaking out in her support and other activities are being planned.
Gatekeepers or advocates? Disability activist speaks out on Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
We talk with disability activist Gus Reed about (successfully) taking the NS Human Rights Commission to court, and why the Commission appears so reluctant to fight on behalf of people whose human rights have been breached. “I think there is a reluctance to take on tough issues that involve systemic problems. I also don’t think they like to take on the government,” says Reed.
Danny Cavanagh: Many workers go to work and never come home again
Danny Cavanagh, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour, on this Friday’s National Day of Mourning, Westray and why the federal government must enforce laws holding employers criminally accountable for workplace death and injury.
Carding not stopping anytime soon in Halifax
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is taking the lead in a narrow investigation into carding by Halifax police. An expert will be hired to determine if discrimination actually occurs. Meanwhile Black people will continue to be targeted.
Fraud charges by Community Services leave former welfare recipient terrified
Years after he got off social assistance Community Services intends to charge him with fraud for running a small business, even though the department had earlier approved the practice. Now the poor man fears he may end up losing his daughter. Brenda Thompson reports from the Annapolis Valley.
Town of Shelburne councillor throws FaceBook tantrum after Black residents raise pollution fears
Town of Shelburne councillor Rick Davis says African Nova Scotian residents worried about pollution from a town dump need to stop playing the race card. That dump was a good thing for Black residents, he suggests, “after all, “the reality is, that many black people relied on that dump for a living, because they, unlike many others I suppose, were the only ones that would deal with the removal of town trash.”