Good morning!

I’m getting tired of our politicians trying to sell this austerity budget as a “spending budget,” as finance minister and alleged womens’ rights denier John Lohr calls it.

In one sense, it’s completely accurate. The province is spending so much money that they won’t come close to clearing away the deficit that put us in the hole—a deficit the Tories caused by spending over $6 billion outside the budget, without approval in the legislature, since coming into office. The deficit before this budget was released? $1.4 billion. The expected deficit at the end of the fiscal? $1.2 billion. If they continue the out-of-budget spending they’re known for and seemingly have no intentions to fix, we’ll get back up to that $1.4 billion deficit in no time.

We have a story below on what these cuts mean to the arts sector, but I also want to highlight another topic that came to mind over the weekend as I was chatting with some folks in the community. If we want to do anything about politicians who care more about energy development than the people they’re supposed to represent, we need to encourage the youth to vote. Their turnout in the 2024 election was dreadful despite them being a huge voter bloc, and its up to the opposition parties to make the case for their vote—a case they have sullied in the past.

So, alongside the article below, check out this opinion piece I wrote just over a month ago on why we need young people at the polls. In addition to that, we also need young people running in elections. It’s taxing, fiscally and emotionally, but without that, Nova Scotia will be eternally screwed.

In the mean time, hold onto your anger. Join the arts funding cut protest at the Province House today at 12pm. Vote. Run for office. Buy local. Help your neighbours. Take care of yourself.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: 🌨️ 7°

Tomorrow: 🌨️ -2°

Next Day: ☁ -1°

7-day forecast

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

The outcome is clear. The Nova Scotia government's recent budget cuts will impact industries across the province. Cutbacks will have to be made to fit within tight financial margins.

Axed grants and funding will be to the detriment of many industries, the arts sector included.

It's not just one song communities won't hear," says Masuma Khan, executive director of the Bus Stop Theatre Co-op. "It's communities that won't receive the support and the culture that makes them feel full."

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with two venue directors about how the budget cuts impact their operations.

🏒 History buffs are rebuking the province’s attempt to enact the Birthplace of Hockey Act, which would designate Windsor, N.S. as the sport’s official place of origin—Mi’kmaq histories tell of a game like hockey well before Windsor’s claim, as well as other places in the province with documented evidence of games akin to hockey before its inception.

🎶 Nova Scotia Music Week will take place in Truro from Nov. 12-15, 2026—the annual celebration of music across the province is in its 29th year and will offer concerts, conference programming, and its awards ceremony.

👩‍⚕️ A dementia program in Liverpool is shutting down due to provincial budget cuts—the MLA for Queens, Kim Masland, says she only found out about the cut after the program’s executive director contacted her.

🎶 This March, head Downtown for some live, local music during March is for Music, presented by Downtown Halifax Business Commission.*

*Sponsored Post

Not to be missed! Live Art Dance, in partnership with suddenlyLISTEN, presents “Graveyards and Gardens”, a mesmerizing dance piece and concert in one!

Innovative and celebrated choreographer, Vanessa Goodman, joins forces with Pulitzer Prize winning musician, Caroline Shaw, to create an unforgettable evening. Tickets are limited – get yours today!

⚖️ A fraudster who scammed seniors throughout Halifax has been sentenced to 15 months in prison—Omar Zanfi, 28, will face another set of similar charges in Moncton next month.

✂️ Halifax police say a junior high student was injured after being attacked with a pair of scissors by another youth—the victim was taken to hospital and the suspect was arrested.

🪧 Hundreds of demonstrators took to the legislature on Tuesday to oppose the government’s plans for resource extraction to the detriment of other programs and services—some say Tim Houston is ignoring Treaty Rights and demanded his resignation.

Save the date for We Love Downtown Dartmouth Day on Saturday, April 11! Businesses support each other by offering specials or promotions to folks who shop at another participating business that day. It is a way to encourage folks to head downtown after a slow Winter season.

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

🗓 Live Jazz with The Matt MacLennan Trio: Bassit Matt MacLennan brings his three-piece band along for velvety ballads and smooth bossa novas at the Obladee. | March 4 | 7PM |

🗓 Alan Doyle @ Light House Arts Centre: Newfoundland’s own Alan Doyle is joined by PEI folk-duo The East Pointers for this Atlantic Canadian tour. | March 3-6 | 8PM | $78+|

🗓 Uncorked Connections: Visit The Wine Spa on the first Wednesday of every month for an evening designed for professionals to connect in a vibrant social setting. | March 4 | 5:30PM | $55+|

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

➡️ The Volga Maersk container vessel departed Halifax for Antwerp at 3:30am.

🚢➡️ The SFL Conductor roll-on/roll-off vessel arrives in Halifax from Emden at 5:55am and departs for Jacksonville at 5pm.

➡️ The Algotitan tanker departs Halifax for other countries at 8am.

🚢 The Onego Duero general cargo vessel arrives in Halifax from Szczecin at 12:15pm.

🚢 The MSC Sarya III container vessel arrives in Halifax from Le Havre at 4:15pm.

🥪 Larry’s Sandwiches has another magnificent sandwich of the week: the Pesto Italian. Made with basil pesto, a trio of Genoa salami, prosciutto, Calabrese salami, olive tapenade, provolone, fresh cucumber and arugula on a bun.

🧇 For March only, go down to Churned and try their new Korean BBQ chicken and waffles! Classic gluten-free waffles with crispy tofu, house-made kimchi, gochujang maple syrup, green onions and toasted sesame.

🍷 It’s late February. The winds of winter are blowing. Standing at the corner of Barrington and Blowers streets, you would be hard-pressed to see Obladee Wine Bar. The 15-year-young operation is wrapped in snow- and ice-laden scaffolding, metal poles, plywood and mesh, obscuring what was once one of downtown Halifax’s most recognizable windows. It is also wrapped in a legal battle for survival. Recently, a Superior Court judge granted Obladee a three-month extension to its lease after the original agreement was terminated following the sale of the Tramway Building, where the restaurant occupies the ground floor. The Coast’s food expert Mark DeWolf speaks to the difficulties of running a restaurant, the doors that have shuttered, and the city’s newest openings.

📣 Premier Tim Houston was loudly booed at the African Heritage Month Gala in Halifax on Saturday night after his government cut $130 million in grants—programs aimed at Black and African Nova Scotian communities were part of those cuts.

🪓 Nova Scotia Community College is planning for staff cuts as its operating grant was reduced by $9.4 million—acting president Anna Burke told staff in an email that the college will reduce its workforce by three percent.

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