🗞️ Election confusion and snoozin'

Good morning Halifax,

I’m writing to you from the past, so I hope everyone is okay with whatever happened last night in the States, and that there is still a world left. If not, we had a good run as Earthlings 🌎

With the municipal election, the US election and the provincial election, you might be feeling full election fatigue. I know I am. There are so many signs in yards that it’s hard to tell who is running for what and, also, who cares?

And, actually, calling a general election was probably a genius move by Tim Houston (words I’d never think I’d type in that order) because the premier’s caught us when our defences are down. In fact, a political scientist says the government needs to up the ante if they hope to have anyone care enough to show up at the polls. 

Voter turnout province-wide was 55% in 2021 and has been on a downward trend for decades—and as we found out a few weeks ago, municipal numbers in Halifax are even worse.

But the bigger problem—according to the experts—is just plain old voter apathy and burnout. And they say that the elimination of voter information cards is doing nothing to help keep people interested. 

So, I know it’s hard Halifax; it’s hard for everyone right now. But we’re tough and we need to pull together one last time, because our decisions about the people we put in charge of our province really do matter. Just a few more weeks and then we can all have a nice, long nap.

Until then, we ride at dawn!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 19°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 9°

Next Day: ☀️ 7°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS + OPINION

Voter information card confusion as Elections Nova Scotia cancels process

A pending postal strike has stopped Elections Nova Scotia from issuing voter information cards for the upcoming provincial election, causing confusion and criticism for some voters.

According to a media release on Oct 31, Elections Nova Scotia has decided not to print the cards due to the potential for a Canada Post strike which could interrupt the process of eligible voters receiving their voter information cards. “It was a difficult decision not to print VICs,” says Chief Electoral Officer Dorothy Rice in the release, “but we wanted to make sure there was a clear message for voters if there is a postal strike.”

VICs typically contain information on where and when registered voters can cast their ballots. This year, voters will be expected to find their voting location by using the “where do I vote” tool on the Elections Nova Scotia website. Voters are asked to bring their current ID with them when they vote—if they do not have a valid ID or did not bring it with them, they can take an oath to attest their eligibility.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over some of the confusion and criticism that has arose from this decision.

🤔 Need To Know

💉 Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives promised on Tuesday to introduce a universal shingles vaccine program for people 65 and older if re-elected—the latest in a series of targeted health announcements.

⛺ The deadline for people to leave a designated homeless encampment in downtown Halifax has arrived, and the municipality is working with the remaining few people to help them find a new place to live.

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For bookings, email us or call 902-407-5001.

EDUCATION

Dal will not ask survivors of sexualized violence to sign NDAs

Dalhousie University has made a significant change to the way it responds to cases of sexualized violence involving members of its community. 

In the week following several events hosted by the group Can’t Buy My Silence, or CBMS, in Halifax on banning the misuse of non-disclosure agreements because of their harmful consequences, Dal quietly updated its sexualized violence website. 

About a third of the way down the page, there’s now a line of bold text that reads, “Dalhousie will not ask a survivor to sign an NDA in a sexualized violence case.” Although this line appeared at the beginning of October, Dal hasn’t announced or explained the change. 

The university also hasn’t said whether it will sign the CBMS university pledge, which would further commit Dal to not using NDAs “to silence people who come forward to raise complaints of sexual harassment, discrimination, abuse or misconduct, or other forms of harassment and bullying,” and not just in cases of sexualized violence. 

In the absence of provincial or federal legislation stipulating an end to NDA misuse, the CBMS university pledge is a way for learning institutions to ensure that—at least for their employees, students and faculty—this practice will end. 

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips spoke with trauma therapist Kristina Fifield about the move Fifield calls the “first step of many that Dal needs to take.”

🗞️ In Other News

🚨 The RCMP has confirmed the two suspicious deaths that took place in Cole Harbour this week were the result of a murder-suicide—on Monday morning the remains were found of two people in their 70s.

🪧 Provincially, the Green Party and NDP have rolled out the welcome mat for federal leaders Elizabeth May and Jagmeet Singh on the campaign trail—but NS Liberals and PCs slammed the door shut on help from Justin Trudeau and Pierre Poilievre.

👀 Police are looking for information after the popular BLT trail in the Halifax area was vandalized over the weekend—causing “thousands of dollars” worth of damage to 10 gates that prevent motorized access to the trail.

🪦 A new memorial was recently dedicated in a small Nova Scotia community that honours eight brothers who served in WWII—six returned home, while two died and are buried overseas.

🌳 East Coast Environmental Law is hoping the province’s political parties will work together to come up with legislation guaranteeing "a right to a healthy environment”—a proposal supported by some of the parties. 

👥 According to a study conducted by Dalhousie and St. Francis Xavier universities, some people in Halifax say they aren't troubled by having few or no friends.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Heather Taves' Beethoven Journey: In 2023, the great Canadian pianist Heather Taves undertook the truly monumental task of studying and performing all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas. Over the past year, she has read, performed, and thought and blogged about Beethoven and his world. Tonight's selection of sonatas presents those that were dedicated to the women in Beethoven's life. | Nov 6 | 7:30pm | $35

🗓 2024 Tech Forward Awards: Digital Nova Scotia is pleased to invite you to the 2024 Tech Forward Awards presented by RBC. Join industry leaders for a night of celebration to highlight and recognize organizations, and individuals who are making a difference in the technology sector in Nova Scotia. | Nov 7 | 9pm | $180

🗓 Jesse Singh—Baby Goat Comedy Tour: The Baby Goat Comedy Tour will feature Jesse’s charming and easygoing personality as he shares hilarious stories about his life that are equal parts goofy and gracious. This tour will also feature Ethan O’Reilly and Johnny Batta. | Nov 8 | 8pm | $23

🗓 Hal-Con Sci Fi Convention: This extraordinary celebration shines brightly as a beacon for science fiction, fantasy, gaming and comic-con enthusiasts. The convention masterfully intertwines the classic allure of sci-fi and fantasy gatherings with the dynamic flair of modern comic-con trade shows. This fusion creates a one-of-a-kind programming experience that is rare in the Atlantic Region, offering attendees an eclectic mix of activities that cater to a wide range of interests. | Nov 8-10

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The AS Felicia container ship leaves Halifax for Kingston at 3:30am.

➡️ The MSC Lisa container ship arrives in Halifax from Sines at 5:20am.

🛳️➡️ The MSC Celine container ship arrives in Halifax from Corner Brook at 6:15am and leaves for Freeport at 11pm.

🛳️ The Kleven container ship arrives in Halifax from Colon at 11:15am.

🛳️ The Atlantic Sun container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 3:20pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🦞 Try a dish fit for royalty with the Lobster Crown at Water Polo: cognac cream, lobster oil, salmon caviar.

🇮🇳 CHNK CHOP is putting an Indian spin on a classic with the Tandoori Fried Chicken Sandwich: tandoori mayo, cucumber, lettuce, red onion, cilantro, yogurt mint dressing.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏢 The NSNDP have announced the first part of their housing plan—they promise to abolish fixed-term leases and set a new rent cap if elected. In a press release on Oct 31, party leader Claudia Chender said if the NDP form the next government, they would ban fixed-term leases. This practice allows landlords to boot tenants after their lease is up and increase the rent of units, effectively bypassing the 5% annual rent cap enacted by premier Tim Houston’s government. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer tells you how this plan would help renters.

📖 Halifax-based author Donna Jones Alward’s latest work of historical fiction confirms exactly what she’s always believed: women make the world work. Set in the lead-up to, during and in the aftermath of Halifax’s most notorious disaster, the book chronicles two fictional characters (and several real ones) as they navigate the historically-accurate portrayal of 1917 Halifax and the very real role that thousands of women played in the relief efforts. The Coast’s Julie Lawrence spoke to Jones Alward’s inspiration for the book.

⚖️ A former Nova Scotia school principal has been found not guilty in a historical sexual assault case after a woman accused hum of giving her an open-mouthed kiss and touching her body at a social function when she was 14.

That’s it!

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