🗞️ A weird pizza analogy

Good morning Halifax,

To quote Bill Shakespeare (sorta), something is rotten in the state of Pictou County.

Over the weekend, NDP MLA candidate Mary Stewart posted a statement on social media about the hate and vitriol she has been facing while canvassing her campaign—and she’s very clear about who it’s coming from: “hateful, racist, homophobic and transphobic attacks are coming from those voting PC in our community,” says the post.

Thank god somebody in this political land of true jellyfish has a backbone though; Kris MacFarlane—a Liberal candidate for Pictou Centre–came to Stewart’s defence, saying “personal attacks on a woman and mother and a fellow Pictou County citizen…says more about you than they do on her and her qualifications.” Preach.

Crickets from the PC party 🦗

One of my long-held beliefs is that we are different from other places because we are able to accept and celebrate our differences, while practicing love and tolerance. But I don’t think I believe that anymore.

The very public hate and intolerance from political leaders has allowed people to embrace the parts of themselves that are hateful and need to change; the things that are bigoted and close-minded.

The fact that they get to hate them out loud makes it okay for you to hate them inside. If they can do it proudly in front of the whole world, then certainly you can do it at your kitchen table, at your kid’s soccer game, at your church—and at your front door when a woman you don’t agree with comes knocking.

We are not immune. Not even close.

Please try to spread some love and light out there today.

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 6°

Tomorrow: ☁️ 6°

Next Day: 🌧️ 7°

7-day forecast

🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

NEWS + OPINION

Birth control screwup and a weird pizza analogy: Takeaways from the second leaders debate

Premier Tim Houston had one message for Nova Scotian voters during CTV Atlantic’s provincial leaders roundtable Thursday night: the plan is working. 

Criticisms from his fellow party leaders would suggest otherwise.

The roundtable itself was messy. While Houston and Liberal leader Zach Churchill fired shots at each other throughout the evening, it was hard not to feel for NSNDP leader Claudia Chender, who seemed to be more focused on the issues. Although she certainly unholstered her metaphorical gun more than a few times, it was all propelled by policy, and she hit the target when she slammed Houston for not accepting the feds’ plan to make birth control free.

Bill C-64, the pharmacare act, was pushed by the federal Liberals and NDP into becoming law in October, and allows free diabetes medication and contraceptives for provinces that negotiate deals with the federal government. This bill will save individuals and families hundreds or thousands of dollars annually on their medication. Chender asked Houston why he had yet to accept the federal government’s offer.

Houston’s response? He wanted to negotiate further with the feds while saying it was no good to accept a federal law that had only just passed, leaving Ottawa’s money on the table and leaving Nova Scotians to continue paying for medication that has become free in other provinces.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over the highlights from Thursday night’s leaders debate.

🤔 Need To Know

🗳️ With two days left before Nova Scotians elect their next government, polls suggest Progressive Conservative leader Tim Houston’s decision to call an early vote will pay off, and the real battle will be between the Liberals and NDP for second place.

🗑️ HRM is gauging interest in a cart-based garbage collection that would work similarly to how green bins are used for compost collection—the municipality has launched a survey that will be available to fill out until Dec 20.

📮 Canada Post said Saturday there’s been no “major breakthrough” in talks with the postal workers’ union as the ongoing strike entered its second week and the two sides remain far apart at the negotiating table.

SPONSORED BY THE SPRING GARDEN AREA BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Shop Under the Stars With Spring Garden

Join the Spring Garden Area Business Association for the annual Shopping Under the Stars event on Friday, December 6, from 5-9pm. This festive celebration offers a magical atmosphere with holiday shopping, winter games and entertainment for all ages. Savour free hot chocolate, explore two holiday markets, and take festive photos with holiday displays while enjoying music from carollers, live DJ booths and Santa himself. Also, don’t stress where to park: six parkades are offering free parking during the event. Don’t miss this perfect way to kick off the holiday season with family and friends!

EDUCATION

Where are the parties on education and child care?

The polling during this nearly finished provincial election campaign has consistently found that premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservatives have a significant lead. But polls have also shown a significant share of voters—something like a quarter of those polled—are undecided. If they all went the same direction against Houston, the PC lock on the election wouldn't be so secure. 

What does it take to convince undecided voters to choose a party or a candidate? Maybe it’s simple. Maybe you acknowledge a problem voters care about in a truthful, accountable way and outline a clear, well-researched plan to address it.

Party platforms are a great opportunity to find out what the politicians say they'll do if they're elected. Reading these can feel daunting, but keep them around for Nov 27—and the years that follow—to assure yourself you did hear that campaign promise that’s since disappeared. 

On education, the PCs promise, for example, to guarantee every Bachelor of Education graduate a teaching job, create a new School Code of Conduct and hire two police officers within the Department of Education to oversee school safety province-wide. The Liberals are promising to spend $4.3 million to hire more educators, invest in training for school staff, create a strategy to address school violence and add new curriculum strategies to address mental health. And the NDP say they will invest in child care spaces in underserved areas across the province by creating a centralized waiting list. 

Find out more about party plans from The Coast's Lauren Phillips.

🗞️ In Other News

✅ The leader of Canada's Green Party had some strong words for Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservatives while joining her provincial counterpart on the campaign trail—including “shame on you” and "you claim you're doing it for Nova Scotians, you're doing it for you.”

🌊 As erosion threatens the East Hants coastline, the Walton Lighthouse has been moved away from the cliff where it was built in 1873—it is the only surviving lighthouse in Hants County. 

🛍️ As Canada Post unionized workers enter the second week on the picket lines, small businesses in Nova Scotia are missing out on holiday sales—and some are changing how they do business.

🦪 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says oyster samples from New Brunswick’s east coast have tested positive for two diseases—one of which has been found for the first time in Canada.

SPONSORED BY CANADIAN MUSEUM OF IMMIGRATION AT PIER 21

Join us for an unforgettable concert!

For the first time in Halifax, the Grammy-nominated ARC Ensemble (Artists of The Royal Conservatory) brings their exceptional talent as one of Canada’s top cultural ambassadors. This concert showcases their unique excellence, offering a powerful reflection on diverse backgrounds and experiences through music. Don't miss out on this inspiring performance!

SPONSORED BY LIVE ART DANCE

Chantal Baudouin, Les Nœuds de Gustav

Les Nœuds de Gustav is a multidisciplinary work where dance is finely interwoven with music, narrative and interactive scenography.

The dance solo follows the character Abbacus, who tries to build, rebuild and construct themselves, navigating through doubt and adversity.  

December 6 & 7, Sir James Dunn Theatre, 8pm.

🗓️ Things To Do

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 A Matter of Belonging—Gloria Ann Wesley: Author Gloria Ann Wesley will provide an historical overview of the No. 2 Construction Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, also known as the Black Battalion. Created on July 5, 1916, during the First World War, it was a segregated non-combatant unit, the first and only all-Black battalion-sized formation in Canadian military history. | Nov 26 | 6:30pm | Free

🗓 Aaron Goodvin Live: On the heels of the releasing his new single “Your Time to Stay,” St. Albert-bred, Nashville-based, double-platinum-selling artist Aaron Goodvin brings his tour to the east coast this November with special guests Basil Bauer and Justin Fancy. | Nov 26 | 7:30pm | $60

🗓 Halifax Live Comedy Club Presents Nick Burden: With his small-town charm and fearless approach to any topic, Nick has become a favourite wherever he performs. He is renowned for his exceptional crowd interactions, demonstrating an uncanny ability to connect with every audience he encounters. | Nov 29 | 7pm | $25

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The MSC Rita V container ship leaves Halifax for Montreal at 5am.

🛳️➡️ The CGA CGM Paranagua container ship arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 5:15am and  leaves for Antwerp at 11pm.

🛳️ The Algoluna oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Quebec at 7:15am.

➡️ The Asian Spirit general cargo ship leaves Halifax for Montreal at 12pm.

🛳️ The Tropic Hope container ship arrives in Halifax from Philipsburg at 3:15am.

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sea container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 3:20pm and  leaves for New York at 10pm.

🛳️ The MSC Baltic III container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 3:50pm

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍲 Meet your new gluten-free and veggie bestie with the Dahl at Black Sheep: curried lentils, seared halloumi, raita, poppadom, pickled fennel and red onion, cilantro.

🍔 Burger special alert! This week’s feature at The Dukes is the Mac and Cheese Burger: original Duke’s patty, carmelized onions, bbq sauce, American cheese, bacon and a handmade mac and cheese ball.

👀 In Case You Missed It

✍️ Stephen Moore, who acts as the director of communications for the Office of the Premier and previously held the role during Liberal premier Stephen McNeil’s tenure, wrote an opinion piece for the National Post where he defended the use of Nazi symbolism at the 2022 Freedom Convoy protests by calling it a criticism of prime minister Justin Trudeau’s government. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes into the arguments Moore made in his National Post piece, including his defence of Nazi symbolism and his anti-trans rhetoric.

🚗 A social media post from a 19-year-old has led to them facing charges for going nearly 200km/h while holding a bottle of liquor in the Yarmouth area.

That’s it!

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