Hello my beautiful city,

Tim Houston is doing my most favourite thing that politicians do: he’s metaphorically throwing his toys out of his crib and yelling “Fine! If you think it’s so easy, YOU do it!”. And by that I mean, he’s inviting people to build and submit their own budget or attend public meetings to bring their suggestions.

I spent three years, four budgets and two governments in communications at the Department of Finance, so I know of which I speak about how the budget is built and I promise, the brilliant staff that manage the province’s debt and put together the budget each year do amazing work.

And then the premier’s office gets their hands on it and everything goes to shit. The government does not create the budget; they dictate what has to be and the staff move things around to please the priorities of the government of the day. So it’s not at all like “sitting around a kitchen table building a family budget” as Houston so condescendingly explained to us dumb-dumbs.

When the NSNDP were in power, then-finance minister Graham Steele insisted that we do what he called a provincial “Back to Balance” tour. It was exactly what Houston is doing now. Steele, along with provincial staff—including myself—traveled around the province for weeks holding public meetings where people would tell the premier what they would do if they were in charge of the budget.

It would go like this:

New Glasgow woman: We need more doctors. I waited 45 months to get a mole looked at.

Graham Steele: Sure, let’s so that. So what should we cut in order to free up the funds for more doctors?

New Glasgow woman: Well, I don’t know! That’s your job.

Graham Steele: Exactly, it’s not that easy to make big decisions, is it?

New Glasgow woman: *Blank stare 😐

Graham Steele: *Evil ‘I win’ grin 😈

Repeat times hundreds of people.

It was a basically a very expensive way for Graham Steele to cosplay caring about what the public thinks—and I was there so I know that NOTHING anybody said mattered when creating the next year’s budget. It was the ultimate smoke in mirrors routine.

And that’s all Tim Houston is doing; giving us the ol’ razzle dazzle. I beg of you: do not take the time to do this, unless you’re an uber finance nerd who just can’t help yourself. Houston is just doing this to try to show nay-sayers (all of us) how very difficult his job is—and how he needs our help—in hopes that it will make us less mad at him over this year’s budget.

It’s just a very childish way of not taking accountability for the decisions he made that upset people. It’s an “eff you, you think my job is easy, you try doing it” to protestors.

He’s just doing what everyone’s dad does when you criticize how they put a painting up on your wall or whatever. It’s like “dad, I’m not saying I want to do it myself, I’m saying it’s crooked.”

Everyone just keep singing—that’s what he wants the least.

Love and light! (especially to the poor staff who had to pull this whole website together in a 48 hours because Houston had an idea once).

– Jules

📷 @editorjulesl

Today: ☁ 8°

Tomorrow: ☀ 9°

Next Day: ⛈ 10°

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

Forget sharks. Women in Halifax are finding it’s not safe to go in the water for an even more unsettling reason.

For the past five years, Robin Johnson has found solace and peace in her nightly swims at Williams Lake or Tea Lake—also known as Purcell’s Pond. It was her way of erasing the stresses of the day and getting some time to commune with nature.

That all changed on the evening of Aug 15, when she hiked the 15 minutes into Tea Lake with her French bulldog, Clarence. As she approached the water, she noticed a man standing on the shore, completely naked, but with his back turned to her.

The Coast’s Julie Lawrence talks with Johnson about her experience.

👩‍⚕️ Nova Scotia is set to open a new Menopause Centre of Excellence in Spryfield this winter—the clinic will specialize in managing symptoms related to perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, with a focus on clinical care, research and education.

🗳️ A new poll finds the Liberals enjoy their largest lead over the Conservatives since Mark Carney became leader with a majority of Canadians intending to cast a ballot for them if an election were held today.

📚 Last chance to register for Halifax Humanities 101, a FREE great books course in North End Halifax. Apply at halhum101.ca today!*

🍷 Fall is calling. Explore NS’s stunning vineyards, sip award-winning wines, enjoy delicious local food, and experience the magic of harvest season with us.*

🚗 Start your engines for a great cause! Revving Up for Family SOS brings incredible cars, family activities, entertainment and community together October 4. Get tickets!*

⚖️ Did you know you can eliminate stubborn fat without dieting, a new exercise plan, or medical weight loss medication? It’s 40% off until September 29th.*

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Artists Michelle Darwin and Mary Morey have a joint show starting Friday, running over the next two weekends (11 days). Paintings in the show will celebrate the colour and light of Nova Scotia homes and landscapes. The show will feature original paintings ranging from 6x6” up to 24x30”, as well as a large selection of fine art prints and cards.

Poetry of Place
LaHave Bakery Gallery (2nd floor)
September 18-28th
Open 10-4 daily

See more of Michelle Darwin's work on her website.

If you can't make it to the show, you can browse her online shop for original art and prints.

🚨 Halifax police are investigating reports of gunfire in the city’s north end Monday afternoon—officers responded to reports of gunfire on Duffus Street, between Lunch Street and Jarvis Lane around 3:45pm.

⚖️ A man accused of a racist tirade inside a Halifax Costco will be back in court next month to answer to a slate of separate charges—Randall Publicover is facing eight charges, including resisting arrest, inciting hatred against an identifiable group and two counts of assault.

📰 The managing editor of Frank Magazine—Andrew Douglas—has been charged for allegedly publishing an intimate image of another person—In July 2025, police say it was reported to them Frank Magazine “published an intimate image online of another person without their consent.”

🚒 For the second time, emergency officials were called to a residential street in Timberlea for what police are calling an arson—RCMP believe the incident is linked to another arson and attempted arson incidents that happened early September.

🇨🇦 "Elbows Up" has become part of the Canadian lexicon and now a number of businesses are trying to cash in on it—There are roughly a dozen applications listed on the Canadian Intellectual Property Office's trademarks database to have the exclusive right to the slogan.

💸 Most Nova Scotia municipalities using the RCMP will see their policing costs go down this year under a new billing model—but any savings come with strings attached.

🦫 Some residents of Cole Harbour are angry that a pair of beavers were removed from a nearby lake and euthanized last month because they were building a dam that municipal officials feared could cause flooding.

🚨 A 43-year-old man is facing several charges in connection with multiple reported break-ins at businesses in downtown Dartmouth—officers responded to nine break and enters between Aug. 26 and Sept. 12.

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

🗓 Roger Mooking - SoundBites: Don’t miss Roger Mooking's first solo exhibition in Atlantic Canada, bringing together visual art, moving image, music, and text in an immersive exploration of creativity, memory, and the rhythms of contemporary life. Drawing inspiration from the sampling traditions of Hip-Hop, Mooking recontextualizes reproductions of his own artworks to create a dynamic multidisciplinary environment. | Sept 10 - Nov 8 |

🗓 Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF): Showcasing both emerging and established voices, AIFF shines a spotlight on Atlantic Canadian talent while introducing audiences to outstanding cinema from around the world. Whether you're a dedicated film enthusiast, an industry professional, or simply looking to discover compelling new stories, AIFF offers an engaging and inspiring celebration of film, creativity, and community. | Sept 16-23 |

🗓 Prairies to Ports - paintings by Jacqueline Faye Miller & Peter Ollerhead: This new exhibition celebrates the landscapes of Saskatchewan and Newfoundland through distinct yet complementary perspectives. Though separated by thousands of kilometers, both artists share a connection to the Canadian landscape. As a tribute to Nova Scotia and the place where these two artists come together, both have interpreted the same landscape at Ingonish Beach along the Cabot Trail. The shared subject offers a unique opportunity to see the same place through two distinct artistic perspectives. | Sept 17-Oct 9 |

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

🚢➡️ The Grande Cameroon roll-on/roll-off vessel arrives in Halifax from Savona at 5:55am and departs for Baltimore at 6pm.

➡️ The Tropic Hope container vessel departs for West Palm Beach at 6am.

➡️ The Idus Atwell barge departs Halifax for Point Tupper at 12pm.

➡️ The Aidadiva cruise vessel departs Halifax at 4pm.

The Atlantic International Film Festival is back! From September 16–23, experience 100+ new films from Atlantic Canada and around the world at Cineplex Park Lane.

Catch a film, grab dinner, coffee, or drinks on Spring Garden Road, and make a night of it. Your festival experience starts here.

😋 Public is serving Chachos: house kettle chips topped with cured meats, melted mozzarella and brie, pickled chilies, and seasonal jam.

🌯 GIANT Burrito! 1.25 lbs of beef, rice, cheese, guacamole, and nacho cheese. Pair it with a Blunder Mug of Diablo.

🌮 Come make an Al Pastor taco with us at Antojo Tacos + Tequila, packed with bold flavour, fresh toppings, and plenty of taco-loving goodness!

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🏛️ Things got tense at the Nova Scotia legislature on Thursday when Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender accused the premier of lying—twice—and launching a “smear campaign” against her, before getting up and leaving.

🚧 Commuters in Halifax will be facing more detours as a road closure on the Halifax peninsula threatens to snarl traffic for weeks to come—the busy off-ramp from the MacKay Bridge to Massachusetts Avenue and Robie Street in the north end is set to close Sept. 21 for more than two months for a rebuilding project.

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