Op-ed: Brendan Maguire, pants on fire
Politicians often take license with the truth, that’s just the way the world works. But sometimes they go too far. Statements by Brendan Maguire, Liberal MLA for Halifax Atlantic, are of that latter variety.
I only waited 12 years for this. Date set for human rights tribunal in HRM gender discrimination case
Former firefighter Liane Tessier finally gets her day in court. Tessier faced gender discrimination, retribution and gossip at the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency department in 2005, and has been trying to get her case heard ever since. Now the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) has set aside 10 days starting October 30 for a tribunal to look into Tessier’s allegations. I have written a lot about Tessier’s case over the years, and have nothing but admiration for this courageous woman.
Government not keeping earlier commitments to persons with developmental disabilities, open letter charges
In an open letter to the Premier a group charges that government isn’t serious about supporting persons with developmental disabilities who are looking for community-based solutions rather than being warehoused in large institutions. he Department of Community Services isn’t even meeting targets it set earlier and that were publicly endorsed by minister Joanne Bernard, the letter states.
Review: Mayworks’ The View from Her(e) and its empowered audience
Last week I attended The View From Her(e), a contemporary dance piece by Liliona Quarmyne, part of this year’s excellent Mayworks Halifax festival. I had a lot of fun. The good news is, there is a Part 2 this week.
Community Services: We cannot fix this unfairness for bureaucratic reasons
Barry Walters’ rent in a public housing apartment building for seniors went up from $285 per month when he first move in in late 2015, to a whopping $812 today. It”s all the Feds’ fault, says Housing Nova Scotia. Well, that’ doesn’t really help me, Walters says.
Benefits Reform Action Group slams NS provincial budget
The Benefits Reform Action Group (BRAG), a coalition of welfare recipients and poverty advocates is not happy with last week’s provincial budget. “Good Grief!” writes the group in a press release. “While announcing tax cuts for the middle class and businesses it has not provided a single penny for the poorest of the poor in Nova Scotia—the people in need and reliant on social assistance.”
Weekend video: Stop Alton Gas Town Hall Tour
This week’s brand new weekend video shows highlights from the recent town hall tour organized by a coalition of individuals and groups opposed to the Alton Gas development. It seems only shareholders and politicians are in favour of the Alton Gas project. Everybody else, not so much.
Op-ed: The myth of North Preston’s Finest
North Preston’s Finest, a term you hear a lot, but there is no evidence a gang of that name exists.
Bridgewater Chief of Police sexual assault charge warrants closer look at Department’s operations
Earlier this year we asked Bridgewater police about the number of sexual assault cases it deemed unfounded, numbers that were very high relative to provincial and national averages. At the time the Deputy Chief of Police told us there was nothing wrong, but somebody should revisit that conclusion now that its own Chief of Police is charged with sexual assault .
An injury to all. Halifax activists offer support for beleaguered Shelburne Black community
While members of the Black community in the Town of Shelburne are facing racist comments by a local councillor, people elsewhere in the province are not standing idly by. “Racism is like a sore, and in order to heal it got to hurt first, I guess. You feel like you don’t have a voice, and you’re feeling isolated within that sickness,” Louise Delisle told the NS Advocate.