Kate MacDonald writes a heartfelt reflection on how privilege doesn’t disappear in a pandemic, it amplifies. “A virus that has been linked directly to travel and exposure now needs a home to grow its roots of blames in. Of course that blame falls on the bodies of Black folks.”
Kendall Worth on how the Easter weekend will be lonely for all this year, not just the very poor. “During this Easter let’s think about ways we can move forward after these public health restrictions can be lifted. Let’s bring the community together to include both those who are financially better off and the poor, and let’s get rid of stigma,” he writes.
“We’re already fighting the battle of being Black, the battle of being from North Preston,” says Miranda Cain. “And now we’re fighting the battle of being from North Preston and Black and with an infectious disease.”
Facing the same threat of coronavirus, a new order issued by Dr. Strang institutes more accountability for nursing homes than for institutions for people with developmental disabilities. That leaves Community Services off the hook, and that is wrong, says human rights lawyer Claire McNeil. As well, protocols around isolation of infected residents need to be revisited.
10 pedestrians died in Halifax traffic over the last 2 years, almost half of them while using a crosswalk. Making crosswalks safer is not rocket science, writes Martyn Williams, so why should we accept that our life and personal safety is less important than traffic flow?
“They are vulnerable workers and they are heroes too!.” A very good op-ed by Danny Cavanagh, president of the NS Federation of Labour on the sacrifices made by by retail and food production workers, without adequate pay and protection.
Howard Ramos, Alan Walks and Jill Grant on Canada’s rising neighborhood and income inequalities, further exposed through the COVID-19 crisis. “A better policy would be to immediately build social housing and affordable rental units. Governments should also continue pandemic-induced policies like limiting loopholes for eviction from commercial and private rental housing.”
Martyn Williams: The Coronavirus crisis has brought to the forefront a perennial problem often swept under the carpet or pegged for gradual street redesigns over decades: How can we enable pedestrians of all ages and abilities to move around safely?
Letter: “In a demonstration of next-level tone deafness, Matt Whitman, a Halifax city councillor is calling for lay-offs.”
This week the Herald demoted Scott Taylor’s column about all things military from appearing in print in the newspaper, to being only online. It’s part of a trend, writes Judy Haiven.