What will it take for Black Lives to Matter in Nova Scotia? The African Nova Scotian Decade for People of African Descent Coalition, representing African Nova Scotian organizations across the province, joins the many concerned citizens who are calling for the sentencing of Shawn Wade Hynes without further delay.
Students at Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College are demanding a tuition freeze after university administration announced a three per cent rise in fees. Meanwhile, international students are slated to pay nearly two thousand dollars extra next year. Reporter David J. Shuman reports.
he Serious Incident Report Team (SIRT) has found that the killing of a civilian by RCMP police in Eastern Passage last summer was justified, given the circumstances. However, the SIRT summary report, as is so often the case, raises questions that remain unanswered. Meanwhile, media in Nova Scotia typically merely echo the SIRT conclusion.
Catherine Frazee: “There is never a good day to pass a bill this dangerous to disabled people, but doing so today is cruel. We have been fighting this bill non-stop for months. And now, instead of a chance to catch our breath and remember a document that says our lives and rights are important and should be supported and respected, the Canadian government is determined to communicate they aren’t and won’t be.”
Raymond Sheppard usually writes about the many ways racism manifests in Nova Scotia, but today he tackles positivity. “We should try to focus more on what we can do and not what we cannot do. Sometimes this is challenging, but positivity improves our mental health and self esteem, and without positivity dreams seems to evaporate,” he writes.
Members of Extinction Rebellion Nova Scotia who were involved in the blockade to save mainland moose habitat from destruction scored a bit of a victory in their legal battle with Westfor Management Inc.
Bill C-7 expands Medical Assistance in Dying beyond those who are actually dying, but it only does so for persons with a disabling medical condition. In November of last year noted scholar Catherine Frazee addressed the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice & Human Rights on the legislation via video. “What is it about disability that makes this okay,” Frazee asked. “Why such breathless confidence that Bill C-7 will bring no harm to disability communities?”
Bev Wigney: In recent weeks, there has been a proliferation of letters to the editor, and spot ads on radio and social media, giving us industry’s “poor me” version of what’s happening to forests on Crown land here in Nova Scotia. Apparently, too many citizens have been writing letters to papers or speaking on the radio, calling attention to what they are seeing with their own eyes.
Wayne Desmond looks at the delays in the conviction of Shawn Wade Hynes, who in a case that has racist overtones, shot his young co-worker Nhlanhla Dlamini with a high velocity nail gun. One and a half years have passed since the defendant was found guilty, and sentencing has been postponed several times. Meanwhile, the defendant’s life has not changed in any regard. He is able to continue his life as a “not guilty” individual.
Some 50 people rallied at Province House this morning to remind government MLAs that everyone has a right to a decent place to live and enough money to make ends meet.