Good morning, Halifax!

As some of you may know, I work for a non-profit organization outside of writing for The Coast, and as you can imagine, we’re fearful of the incoming budget cuts.

Unfortunately, non-profits will suffer immensely under this budget, which isn’t fair for many reasons. The only reason a majority of non-profits exist is due to the failures of government—food banks, housing outreach programs, social service providers, all started to address needs left unaddressed by policy.

In this time of struggle, many of us are wondering what in the hell we’re going to do next. Thankfully, our columnist Liz LeClair is an expert (along with being a fantastic human being). She’ll be joined by other experts for a Fundraising Resource Call meeting, where organizations and communities impacted by these cuts can come together and support each other.

They are holding this meeting on Monday, March 9 starting at 4PM on Zoom. If you believe this call would be of some help to you or the organization you work for, check out the registration form.

If this budget gets passed, which it more than likely will, our communities will need to support each other if we want to get by.

Have a great weekend.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: 🌤️ -1°

Tomorrow: ☁ 6°

Next Day: 🌧️ 8°

7-day forecast

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

Artists in Nova Scotia are fighting back against the province’s proposed budget cuts.

Whether it be joining in on rallies across the province, using their platforms to bring attention to the issue, or stepping away from provincial funding sources to carve their own path, artists are walking the walk as Premier Tim Houston’s government seeks to cut more than $300 million.

Nova Scotian Americana musician Charlie A’Court is one of several musicians letting the government know what they think by way of a song he was writing for his next album. In his own words, “the Houston budget came and I saw the path forward to finish it.” A’Court also says his self-titled scholarship of $500 for excellence in music, which was cut by the province, will continue forward under his own stewardship.

Ben Caplan has also taken to social media to criticize the budget and all of its cuts. He has called it a “manufactured crisis” of austerity, a result of a one percent HST cut which lost the government $261 million a year, along with the elimination of bridge tolls in Halifax. “It was caused by tax cuts, bridge debt, and years of financial mismanagement,” says the musician in an Instagram video posted Thursday.

Even with the budget cuts, the deficit is estimated to still be sitting at $1.2 billion at the end of the 2026/27 fiscal year. The province’s auditor general says that Houston’s government has spent $6.7 billion outside of the budget process since taking office. The government has refused to take the auditor general’s recommendation of proposing legislation to have all out-of-budget spending go through the legislature.

🪖 The federal government announced Thursday that they are nearly doubling the number of military housing units within Halifax—MP Shannon Miedema says 400 new one-or-two bedroom units are planned, including another 48 that were previously announced.

🚗 HRM’s budget committee approved a 25 percent increase to parking fees and paid parking on Saturdays in the downtown cores of Halifax and Dartmouth—Mayor Andy Fillmore says past adjustments did not impact demand for parking.

🏛️ Premier Tim Houston says he has no plans to change the budget despite widespread disapproval, protests, and the negative impact it has on programs and services across the province—he says Nova Scotia’s financial situation is driving their decision making.

🎻 Timeless Beatles classics come alive with Jim Witter and Symphony Nova Scotia in a multimedia celebration of the Fab Four's iconic hits. March 13 -15.*

*Sponsored Post

Edward Albee's 𝙒𝙝𝙤’𝙨 𝘼𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙒𝙤𝙤𝙡𝙛? is officially open at Neptune Theatre.

This all-star local cast, led by award winning director Ann-Marie Kerr, promises to be a theatrical event not to be missed. We can't extend, so make sure you book in to see a stunning production of one of the best plays of the 20th century.

Grab your tickets, brace yourself, and step into the living room where nothing, and no one, comes out unscathed.

On stage until March 15, 2026
🎟Tickets on Sale Now🎟

✂️ The disability community is speaking out against the provincial budget cuts as many of them impact programming and services they rely on—cuts include disability support, the caregiver benefit, and to specific organizations who service the community.

🚓 Police in Bridgewater are investigating the discovery of human remains of a person who was reported missing—they are considering it a suspicious death.

🚨 A man found with a gunshot wound in Dartmouth yesterday morning—he was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Overindulging & slurping noodles are encouraged during Oodles of Noodles on Quinpool! From March 11-17, discover a world of noodles, as the chefs on Quinpool take their appreciation of the meagre noodle to a whole new level of culinary wonder. Your noodle adventures await – are you ready? Learn More.

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

🗓 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+|

🗓 Yuk Yuks Halifax presents Travis Lindsay: Fresh off his first comedy special, Travis Lindsay visits Yuk Yuks in Halifax for two nights of hilarity. Featuring Pat Williams with MC Marianne Mandrusiak. | March 6-7 | 8PM | $25+|

🗓 Halifax Mooseheads vs Cape Breton: Watch your hometown heroes take on the Cape Breton Eagles at the Scotiabank Centre. | March 6 | 7PM | $29.25 |

🗓 Different Folks Market: An International Women’s Day market featuring vendors selling handmade and vintage goods at the IKEA in Dartmouth. | March 7 | 10AM |

🗓 Mamma Mia! A Drag-Along Spectacular: the Drag-Along Spectacular returns with a Mediterranean twist as drag and burlesque performers bring Mamma Mia! Taking place at the Light House Arts Centre. | March 7 | 7:30PM | $33.68+|

🗓 Stardew Valley: Festival of Seasons: An intimate, immersive concert featuring fresh arrangements of the most cherished songs from the Stardew Valley soundtrack, performed live by 11 musicians of the FILMharmonique Orchestra under the baton of Francis Choinière. | March 7 | 3PM, 7:30PM | $90.49+|

🗓 A Li'l Affair: An International Women’s Day event honouring the spirit behind Lilith Fair and spotlighting the power of women in music. Featuring ADINA, Ali Enriquez, Claira Blanchard, Freya Milliken, Kim Wempe, LXVNDR, Roxanne Potvin, Yvette Lorraine and an all-star band at the Sanctuary Arts Centre. | March 7 | 7:30PM | $37.07 |

🗓 Halifax Thunderbirds vs. Las Vegas Desert Dogs: The Thunderbirds take on the Las Vegas Desert Dogs at the Scotiabank Centre. | March 7 | 7PM | $31.75 |

🗓 International Women's Day SheJamBlues Performance: A celebration of International Women’s Day at The Wooden Monkey. A free performance featuring multi-instrumentalists and vocalists. | March 8 | 5PM |

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

➡️ The Bagheera tanker departed Halifax for the United States at 12:30am.

➡️ The Cosco Shanghai container vessel departed Halifax for New York at 2am.

➡️ The Atlantic Sealion barge departed Halifax at 3am.

🚢➡️ The ZIM Asia container vessel arrives in Halifax from Valencia at 5:20am and departs for New York at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Don Pasquale arrives in Halifax from Southampton at 5:55am and departs for New York at 8:30pm.

🚢➡️ The CMA CGM Endurance arrives in Halifax from Algeciras at 6:15am and departs for New York at 10pm.

🚢➡️ The MSC Matilde V arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 10:50am and departs for Montreal at 6pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container vessel departs Halifax for Argentia at 5:30pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container vessel departs Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm

🍟 Fries with a kitchen party glow up. Try out Stubborn Goat’s Backyard BBQ Loaded Fries: house cut fries, baked beans, cheese curds, pulled pork tossed in Guinness BBQ sauce, and creamy coleslaw.

🧇 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.

⛸️ The 18-year-old long-track speed skater from Dartmouth says she’s never been someone who sits still for long. On the ice, that restlessness has turned into momentum, and now, medals. At the most recent international junior competition—the ISU Junior World Speed Skating Championships in Inzell, Germany—Snelgrove won silver in the 500 metres and bronze in the mass start, podium finishes that mark another milestone in a career that has steadily accelerated from local rinks in Dartmouth to the world stage. “I don’t really like having a lot of free time,” she says in an interview with The Coast. “I’m pretty passionate about what I do.” The Coast’s Warren D’Silva chats with Snelgrove about her journey through the world of speed skating.

🌿 The RCMP are raiding cannabis storefronts across the province, inspecting five on Tuesday, seizing product and issuing tickets—this comes after the attorney general made a cannabis crackdown a priority, which a Millbrook councillor is calling a violation of treaty rights.

🚨 A family is speaking out about school safety after a 14-year-old was brutally assaulted by two masked individuals at an Eastern Passage school—an 18-year-old from Enfield was charged with assault in the incident.

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