🗞️ Fixed-term lease legislation remains a nightmare for renters

Happy Monday Halifax,

I went to the public gardens last week to check in with my ducklings—now in their awkward, I’m almost a duck but still a bit fuzzy, stage. They are thriving BTW. But I looked out at the pond and I thought “whatever happened to that little Titanic that was always here?”.

And I guess I wasn’t the only one because after two years MIA, the Titanic is back by popular demand. The first model of the Titanic was launched on May 31, 1995 in Griffin’s Pond. While the original model lasted for 20 years, the next version wasn’t as sturdy, and sunk in 2022.

The new one—a 3D-printed model that’s about nine feet long—launched in a ceremony on Saturday. Is it a maiden voyage if it never moves? I’m not sure because I’m not overly nautical, but it’s there now and everybody—including the ducks—are happy to have it back. 🚢

Have a great day out there!

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: ⛈️ 21°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 20°

Next Day: ☀️ 24°

7-day forecast

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

💨 Here is Halifax’s Air Quality Index and the smoke report.

NEWS + OPINION

Fixed-term lease legislation remains a nightmare for renters in Halifax

Catherine Chase didn’t expect she would have to pick up her life and move by the end of August.

Chase rents a two-bedroom apartment at Prince Edward Estates, owned and managed by Flex Development. She moved in during 2021, and at the time signed a fixed-term lease with the company. This type of lease is typically terminated after the end date, only continuing if both parties agree to it.

When the lease was up and it was time to resign, the property owners instead sent her an email, notifying her of the lease ending.  Chase and her roommate would have to be out of their apartment by the end of the summer.

Her only choices are to find an expensive apartment in a city with a one per cent vacancy rate, or move back in with her parents. For a 29-year-old working professional who has never been late on rent nor any complaints to her name, she’s shocked that she’s been left in this position.

“It was very short,” she said of the email she received. “[It] doesn’t provide any rationale for why they’re not resigning us.”

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer takes a deep dive into the problem of fixed-term leases, including how they act as a loophole around the five per cent rent cap.

🤔 Need To Know

⚖️ A 14-year-old female charged in the homicide of 16-year-old Ahmad Maher Al Marrach had a bail hearing in Halifax Youth Court on Friday.

☀️ Hard Coast Bucket Deals now available at Garrison Seaport & Oxford Taproom! Mix-n-match Lemon-Lime & Peach'd Iced Tea: 4 for $26! Dine in only.*

🎶 Don’t miss Tom Roach, Maryna Krut, Avataar, and Laura Anglade’s performances at The Carleton, July 10-13 for the TD Halifax Jazz Festival.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN HALIFAX BUSINESS COMMISSION

110 Things To Do Downtown This Summer

If you’re looking to have some fun this summer but aren’t sure where to start, check out ‘110 Things to Do Downtown This Summer’.

Featuring everything from ‘Unforgettable Experiences’ to ‘Food & Drink Adventures’, you can maximize your summer fun and maybe even try something new.

Start planning your Downtown summer fun today!

NEWS + OPINION

Teachers need guidance in tackling school violence

The report from auditor general Kim Adair on school violence made clear three key messages.

First, there is an inadequate focus on preventing and addressing violence in schools. Second, the government does not know the full extent of violence in schools due to a lack of data collection. And finally, that educators are not adequately supported to manage violence in the workplace.

As the Coast recently reported, the Antigonish Women's Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association— a community-based registered charity—is delivering a program called Healthy Relationships for Youth (HRY) to local schools that teaches students about healthy relationships as a way to mitigate gender-based violence; to be proactive rather than reactive, and ultimately, to make kids safer at school.

In an email to The Coast, the spokesperson for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development said “teachers are empowered to make professional decisions when developing lesson plans that can include external resources. The Antigonish Women’s Centre and Sexual Assault Services Association's Healthy Relationship for Youth Program is an example of one of these resources.”

Basically, if schools want to implement the HRY in their classrooms, then it’s up to the individual teachers to take that on, not the province.

Nova Scotia Teachers Union president Ryan Lutes says this response is a “cop out.”

The Coast’s Julie Lawrence spoke to Lutes about the AG report and implementing HRY in Nova Scotia schools.

🗞️ In Other News

🚆 Train travellers between Halifax and Montreal will now spend 45 minutes longer on the rails, partly due to a lack of upkeep on the tracks in northern New Brunswick.

⛪ Saint Patrick's Church—located on Brunswick Street—has been ordered to close immediately due to safety concerns with its steeple.

🗿Justin Trudeau marked National Indigenous Peoples Day in central Cape Breton on Friday—announcing a $125M agreement with the We’koqma’q First Nation to settle a dispute over reserve land sold in 1862.

🚽 Halifax Water and the HRM are offering to help private septage haulers in the short-term after a major dumping site said it could no longer accept outside waste.

🚨 Councillor Becky Kent says the goal is to have a new Halifax Regional Police chief by this fall. 

🏢 Seniors living in provincially-subsidized housing say they experienced difficulty breathing, sweat pouring down their backs and a genuine fear of dying during last week’s heat wave—prompting the NDP leaders to call on the government to provide air conditioning.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Spontaneity's Improv Cage Match (FINALS): Watch improv groups and duos go head-to-head in a round robin tournament where the audience decides who wins. The winning team gets a prize of $500! | June 25 | 7:30pm | $15

🗓 Atlantic Shark Expeditions Ribbon Cutting: Kick off the 2024 summer season at Cable Wharf and learn more about the adventure of shark diving, the landscapes of Nova Scotia and marine life and experience the brand new shark expedition boat. | June 25 | 9:30am | Free

🗓 Tattoo Festival - The Music Man Project: From the UK, The Music Man Project supports musicians with learning disabilities and showcases their talents through a varied repertoire. Experience the power of inclusive music, community engagement and educational insight. | June 25 | 10:45am | Free

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Silver Shadow cruise ship leaves Halifax for Canadian seas at 12:01am.

🛳️ The Pyxis Theta oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 6:15am.

➡️ The Douwe-S bulk carrier leaves Halifax for unknown seas at 8am.

➡️ The Algoscotia oil tanker leaves Halifax for Sydney at 12pm.

🛳️ The Em Kea container ship arrives in Halifax from Montreal at 12:15pm.

🛳️➡️ The Viking Mars cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 9am and leaves for Canadian seas at 5pm.

🛳️➡️ The Lake Taupo vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Jacksonville at 6:25am and leaves for Emden at 5pm.

🛳️➡️ The Volendam cruise ship arrives in Halifax at 9am and leaves for Canadian seas at 6pm.

🛳️➡️ The Tropic Hope container ship arrives in Halifax from Philipsburg at 6:15am and leaves for West Palm Beach at 11:30pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍅 Get fresh with the Insalata Panzanella at the Bicycle Thief, featuring vibrant heirloom cherry tomatoes, perfectly paired with creamy Italian burrata.

🍕 Can’t decide what kind of takeout you want? Mix it up with the Butter Chicken Indian pizza from Nayya Pizza and Grill: butter chicken sauce, chicken, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, and garnished with cilantro.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🗿 On June 21, a day also known as “Freedom Day,” the duo behind the provincial Treaty Education initiative ask us to consider the phrase “Maw Kina'masultinej,” which is a Mi’kmaw concept meaning “Let's Learn Together.” The duo shared more tips with The Coast on how to get involved in today’s activities and celebrate Mi’kmaw history, language and culture across the province.

🛣️ Halifax’s Transportation Standing Committee met and watered down the city’s Strategic Road Safety Framework. During the debate, the HRM’s newly promoted executive director of public works, Lucas Pitts, told councillors that this new plan was an upgrade because it was a “systems-level approach” to road safety. The Coast’s Matt Stickland breaks down everything that happened as council debated the new Road Safety Framework.

🏠 The province is changing the rules for people who pay a fixed amount of rent for public housing—a move the government says is aimed at achieving fairness and consistency.

That’s it!

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