Some thoughts about the RCMP’s refusal to apologize for racist street checks. If you think the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners isn’t doing a good job, wait til you find out about rural Nova Scotia…
Ray BAtes: My argument today is that with regional inequalities we must change our urban-versus-rural mindsets. Be it COVID-19, the out-migration of residents, our aging population, the destruction of natural habitats or the reduction in local amenities, Nova Scotia is undergoing a transition into new ways of living that are being accompanied by revised needs and required services.
Media release: Alternative economic solutions to the destructive practices of gold mining exist that support the growth of local economies. We therefore asked all North Colchester candidates whether they support the immediate adoption of the proposed French River Watershed Regulations, which includes a ban on mining.
Ray Bates: “When something as important to Nova Scotians as electing its government is announced on a slow-news-coverage day such as a summertime Saturday, my suspicion antenna goes to an alert stage. Could the timing have been to dampen voter interest via a peekaboo election?”
There’s so little in terms of support for single parents taking care of children with functional needs. Single mom Jennifer Pratt writes about the obstacles she encountered when she tried to qualify for respite services.
Art Fisher is the executive director of the non-profit Family Service Association of Western Nova Scotia. On Tuesday he appeared in front of a virtual Standing Committee of Community Services to speak about affordable housing and COVID-19. He made some excellent points, which is why we are publishing a transcript of his introductory remarks.
PSA: The team behind the Eastern Front Theatre Accessibility Project wants to speak with artists who have faced barriers in the Nova Scotia performing arts scene because of who they are.
In her letter Brittanny Lynn raises the issues of inaccessible pathways and missing sidewalks in her own community in Pictou County, but we encounter the same problem in many places in rural Nova Scotia. People without cars and people with mobility issues are the ones most affected.
Weekend video: A construction and demolition debris facility on North Mountain, not far from Bridgetown, is located in a wetland that feeds springs and local wells. The site contains asbestos and autofluff, and local residents are having a hard time getting the department of Environment’s attention.
Brenda Thompson: “Last week the lack of concern over the issues of homeless and poverty by our federal, provincial and municipal governments resulted in the tragic and needless death of a young woman in the Annapolis Valley. A woman quietly died of carbon monoxide poisoning while her boyfriend has suffered serious injuries.”