RobertDevet, Author at Nova Scotia Advocate

Robert Wright: “All agencies that are responsible for upholding the civil and human rights of Black people have failed us”

October 21, 2020

After Premier McNeil’s surprise apology for systemic racism in the justice system and the harm it has done, he announced the formation of a design team “to reimagine a system of justice in Nova Scotia”. We talk with Robert Wright, spokesperson for the DPAD coalition, to find out more about its proposals for an African Nova Scotian Justice Institute and a Policing Strategy, and to better understand its criticism of the provincial justice initiative.

News brief: NDP calls for first right of refusal to protect affordable housing options

October 20, 2020

The Nova Scotia NDP is calling for a first right of refusal policy for residential housing units being sold in the province. The NDP proposal is driven by the urgent need to increase the non-market housing stock and protect tenants of these buildings, Lisa Roberts, the NDP’s housing critic, tells the Nova Scotia Advocate.

“Yes to treaty rights and no to racism” – Halifax rallies in support of Sipekne’katik fishers

October 18, 2020 1 Comment

Close to 1000 people came together this Sunday afternoon at the Grand Parade in downtown Halifax in support of the beleaguered Mi’kmaq fishers along Nova Scotia’s French Shore.

News brief: Hundreds of Haligonians come out to buy treaty lobsters

October 16, 2020 20 Comments

“I am so excited to see you all here to experience the very first Mi’kmaw self-regulated treaty sale in Nova Scotia,” Dr. Cheryl Maloney of Sipekne’katik told Haligonians looking to pick up some treaty lobster. We did a brief write-up and took some photos at the historic event.

Bullying and dysfunction complaints resurface at Halifax City Hall

October 14, 2020

Old complaints about bullying and dysfunction at HRM workplaces resurfaced when Cathie Barrington, a former manager in HRM’s Council Support Office, was called out for posting vile racist posts on social media.

Review: Jim Crow also lived here – Growing up Black in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia

October 12, 2020

Reading the book you get the feeling that Paris did not set out to write about racism as such. It just so happens that you cannot write about growing up Black in Nova Scotia, no matter when, no matter where, without writing about racism.

News brief: Fairness of SIRT report on Santina Rao arrest questioned

October 9, 2020 2 Comments

Tony Smith, who was hired by SIRT to provide a Black perspective to counterbalance an entirely white investigative team, believes the Santina Rao investigation was seriously flawed and that the report’s conclusions were incorrect.

The Santina Rao SIRT report is nothing but a smear campaign

October 8, 2020

It’s ok to violently assault a young Black mother, as long as she gets upset when she is accused of shoplifting. That’s the conclusion of the Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) report on the arrest of Santina Rao at the Walmart in Halifax in January.

District 8 candidate Virginia Hinch: “The community needs somebody who is going to fight for them”

October 8, 2020 1 Comment

We talk with Halifax Peninsula North candidate Virginia Hinch. “A lot of community members are being pushed out of our communities because they no longer can afford it.”

Dalhousie Faculty Association receives huge strike mandate as it heads into conciliation

October 6, 2020

An overwhelming majority of members of the Dalhousie Faculty Association are willing to go on strike if the university’s Board of Governors doesn’t compromise on its current bargaining stance. “We’re still not sure why this is the year they’ve chosen to try to force through these changes, other than that they don’t believe we have the strength to fight back because of Covid fears. To try to take advantage of the pandemic in such a way is just terrible,” says David Westwood, president of the faculty association.