🗞️ It's not how you start

Good morning Halifax,

While premier Tim Houston is worrying about Trump, tariffs and toll booths—another woman is dead at the hands of a man.

Police in Bridgewater say an elderly woman has died as a result of intimate partner violence. Her death marks the seventh time a woman’s death has been linked to domestic abuse in Nova Scotia since mid-October.

The Coast has received notice that while outlets like CBC have reported that in this instance there was no history of violence, the community indicates that is simply not true. Let’s stop the narrative that these murders happen out of the blue—it is not helpful. What the CBC probably meant was that there was no violence reported to police, which is not the same thing.

It’s clear that Houston doesn’t care. But let’s talk about the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women—a department whose mandate is literally to prevent domestic violence. 

The minister responsible for that department? Leah Martin. Yup, the same one who urged her supporters to give money to her party in order to “overpower the special interest groups and professional protesters.” This as dozens of women and men marched last week to demand action on the epidemic of gender-based violence. Are we the ones she’s hoping to overpower? 

Trying to shut the people up who are simply trying to further the mandate that your department is supposed to be championing is truly dark-sided. Check out Liz LeClair’s open letter to minister Martin for a much more eloquent response to her rally against rallies. She shockingly received no response.

I don’t use the term gender-traitor loosely, but if the boot (licker) fits…

This latest femicide drives home the need for government action—including implementing the recommendations made by the Mass Casualty Commission, like epidemic-level funding, education and training and accountability mechanisms. 

Until that happens, we have to continue to fight, despite PC supporter dollars rolling in specifically to stop us.

Take care of yourself and each other,

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 4°

Tomorrow: 🌨️ 5°

Next Day: 🌧️ 9°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS

The Halifax byelection finally started, but it might not finish

After Andy Fillmore resigned last September as a member of parliament, prime minister Justin Trudeau and the ruling Liberal Party had 180 days to call a byelection for the vacant Halifax riding seat. They used all of them, finally launching the byelection on Sunday, the 180th day. Voting day is April 14.

At least that would be voting day if we lived in a political bubble, where nothing else was happening except the Halifax byelection. In that bubble, Conservative candidate Mark Boudreau would tie his story of overcoming personal struggles to party leader Pierre Poilievre’s 2024 popularity surge, in hopes of a Conservative win in Halifax for the first time in more than 40 years. 

In the bubble, the NDP’s Lisa Roberts (pictured above) would be the frontrunner, seeking to reclaim a seat that should already be swinging in her direction. And Liberal candidate Shannon Miedema, who was just nominated on Saturday, would serve as a human harbinger for her party, testing the waters to find out if Trudeau resigned in time to leave the Liberals with any scraps of support among voters.

But we don’t live in a bubble. Halifax is part of Canada, and Canada is facing a trade war that might start today if Don Trump’s threats come true. There’s kind of a lot going on.

So much is happening, the Halifax byelection should get called off before the April 14 vote. The Coast’s Kyle Shaw explores why.

🤔 Need To Know

🚨 Statistics from the RCMP are showing there was a 150% increase in the number of homicide investigations last year.

🇺🇸 Canada is bracing for US president Don Trump’s sweeping tariffs—expected to come on Tuesday—which economists have warned will be the “most significant trade shock” since the 1930s.

🍜 Explore a World of Noodles during Oodles of Noodles on Quinpool Road… the only celebration of noodles in the city! March 5 – 11.*

⛏️ The Nova Scotia NDP is calling for an immediate pause on the government’s plans to lift long-standing provincial bans on uranium mining and onshore hydraulic fracturing—also known as fracking—until “meaningful consultation” can be had.

💖 March 8 is We Love Downtown Dartmouth Day—an opportunity to get out and support local businesses, who will be celebrating with sales and deals!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY NEPTUNE THEATRE

Little Shop of Horrors

In a quirky little flower shop, a dweeb named Seymour discovers a unique plant. He names this unusual shrub "Audrey II"—after the girl of his dreams. This talking (and yes, singing) plant promises Seymour fame and fortune… but only if he gives into Audrey II's demands.

The smash-hit Broadway musical overtakes the Fountain Hall stage from March 11-May 11.

Tickets start at $40. Book today.

MUSIC

Every big show happening in Halifax this month

Spring is almost here—finally!—and with the longer days of March, Halifax is coming back to life. From film festivals celebrating homegrown talent to some of Canada’s biggest rock acts coming to town, there’s a whole lot more to look forward to this month than just the promise of warmer weather. (Although that certainly helps, too.)

As always, The Coast has you covered with all the big shows coming to Halifax in March.

🗞️ In Other News

🩺 Nova Scotia’s PC government is facing criticism after it took down an online dashboard that provided detailed information about the number of people waiting for a family doctor.

🛣️ The advocacy group for Nova Scotia municipalities has asked for changes to a bill that would allow the province to charge towns and regions for new transportation infrastructure—a power that is "tremendously concerning" to their members.

🥀 A Nova Scotia woman living with ALS who had thousands of dollars stolen from her—allegedly from three of her caretakers—has died.

📮 Canada Post is accusing the union representing its more than 55,000 workers of showing “little meaningful movement” during mediated negotiations this weekend to end a labour dispute that saw employees ordered back to work late last year.

🗄️ Nova Scotia’s recently departed privacy commissioner—Tricia Ralph—remains hopeful the provincial government will give her successor the power and resources they need to ensure citizens can access public records.

🏢 Some of the most affordable rental housing in Nova Scotia is rapidly becoming less so, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation data—the median rent for apartments built in 1979 or earlier has increased more than 40% in the last four years.

SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN HALIFAX BUSINESS COMMISSION

Plan your March Break adventure in Downtown Halifax

Get out and explore Downtown Halifax this March Break!

With plenty of family-friendly attractions, restaurants, shops and more, Downtown Halifax has everything you need to keep the whole family entertained.

Plus, from March 10 to March 15, enjoy free ferry rides on the Alderney/Halifax ferry between 11am and 2pm.

Start planning your Downtown March Break adventure today!

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Mother Mother Tour: Canada’s biggest alt-rock export Mother Mother announced they will be hitting the road again in 2025 with new Canadian tour stops in support of their latest album, Grief Chapter. The band will perform at the Scotiabank Centre tonight! | March 4 | 7pm | $81.75

🗓 A Li’l Affair: Funk Island Lab presents A Li’l Affair, a show to celebrate International Women’s Day and the artists who performed at Lilith Fair, featuring the music of Sarah McLachlan, Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, The Cranberries, Alanis Morissette and more. | March 7 | 6:30pm | $40

🗓 Gerry Dee—”Funny You Should Say That” Canadian tour: Acclaimed comedian Gerry Dee will embark on a new standup comedy tour across Canada throughout 2025, debuting all-new material full of stories and observations from how he sees the world. | March 7 | 8pm | From $65.50

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️The Zim China container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 3:30am.

🚢 The CSL Tacoma container ship arrives in Halifax from Wilmington, NC at 9:21am.

🚢 The Ophelia container ship arrives in Halifax from New York at 3:20pm.

➡️ The Sarah Degagnes oil tanker leaves Halifax for Saint John at 4pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🐟 Try fresh tuna like you’ve never tasted before at Water Polo with the Sesame and Coriander Crusted Yellowfin: salsa verde, fennel, pommes dauphine.

🥟 Explore the flavours of Indo-China with the Chicken and Cheese Momos at Studio East: tomato spiced gravy, mint chutney, tangy tamarind sauce, cilantro, aloo bhujia (Indian potato snack).

👀 In Case You Missed It

🚍 Halifax Transit presented its budget late on Feb 20 and early Feb 21 as part of Halifax’s operations budget debates. For the numbers, Transit’s total budget in 2025/26 is $146.5 million, but with $85.8 million anticipated in revenue, taxpayers cover $60.7 million in net expenditures. As The Coast’s Matt Stickland reports, even though councillors say they want to make public transportation better, they keep making choices in other areas that undermine Transit as a viable option for so many Haligonians.

🥀 The death of 32-year-old Halifax lawyer Harry Critchley—a longtime advocate for prison justice—is being felt by his colleagues, family, friends and the people he fought for.

That’s it!

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