The lockdown is making it hard to meet the census deadline for people who cannot afford Internet access or phones, writes Kendall Worth in an open letter to the minister in charge.
On this Mothers Day Mirinda Bray and Ashley Avery of the Coverdale Courtwork society describe how the Family Justice Program supports women and mothers who are navigating the family courts through child protection and custody matters, and mothers who are provincially incarcerated or criminalized. “I needed some good news and for once I finally got it. I got help getting a place thanks to Barry House and learned about Coverdale. Now I have reunited with my son and am so grateful,” writes a participant.
John McCracken: Looking back at the last month of our caseloads, and more specifically, our provincial government’s actions, there is a compelling argument to be made that our province’s historic reliance on workers having to earn a living in other parts of the country has now come home to bite us.
This mini documentary is a gem. It features North Preston’s amazing singer, song writer, musician and producer Reeny Smith as she performs and talks about obstacles Black artists face. The obstacles are real, but so is the joy and fun that pervades the entire video. The last few minutes, with Reeny’s parents and siblings joining in, are priceless.
This week’s editorial cartoon by cartoonist extraordinaire Matt Dempsey features PR person Karen White and lobbyist Michel Samson, about to give the premier’s office a green Eco make-over.
In the last day two individuals within the the Burnside jail, one an employee, have been infected with COVID-19. It’s time to let our MLAs know that that there is understanding and compassion in the community for people who are experiencing criminalization, says Martha Paynter of Wellness Within.
Knee on the neck, the move used to murder George Floyd, is a frequently used policing technique in Canada as well, writes Judy Haiven. In the first three months of 2021, RCMP officers used the knee-to-neck hold (officially) 26 times!
In March of last year, when the virus first arrived here, Halifax Transit waived fees, allowing passengers to use the rear doors to board and exit and thus limiting bus drivers’ exposures. Bus occupancy was limited. Fares were waived. Now, with infection rates much higher, and while facing new more virulent and deadly Covid-19 strains, Halifax Transit has refused to make a similar adjustment.
While it is important to spread the message of acceptance in terms of autism, it shouldn’t be reserved for only one month of the year, and there are right ways and wrong ways of doing so. An editorial by our intern James Piercey, a NSCC journalism student who is autistic and knows of what he speaks.
Raymond Sheppard: “Many African Canadians are seriously struggling To see their efforts to pay for the bare necessities and try to keep up with utility bills and such is heartbreaking. Many have been forced to take out payday loans at unreasonable interest rates just to survive.”