🗞️ Not today, Satan

Happy Friday Halifax!

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to call a snap election on Sunday, dissolving the federal government he took over barely a week ago and potentially sending Canadians to the polls as early as April 28.

Two federal government sources confirmed media reports that Carney will head to Rideau Hall on March 23 to ask Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament and send us to the ballot box; the sources were not authorized to discuss the date publicly, but the Canadian Press told me and now I’m telling you.

In another oopsie doopsie, the announcement of an election is supposed to be left to the party leader, but I guess multiple Liberal MPs jumped the gun and sent out invitations to their campaign launches via email and social media. 

Meanwhile, Donald Trump says that he would prefer to work with a Liberal government because Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is not a “MAGA guy”. But to me, this is giving Putin endorsing Biden/Harris—which he later said he was joking about. In response, Poilievre posited Trump threw his support behind the Liberals because “he knows that I will be a tough negotiator and always put Canada First."

That’s cute, but I think we all know that Trump is trying to pull some very transparent reverse psychology on us and I believe we are savvy enough as a nation to see right through the not-so-subtle manipulation.

Have a safe and restful weekend!

– Julie

📷 @editorjulesl

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌧️ 7°

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 6°

Next Day: 🌤️ 7°

7-day forecast

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

🤔 Need To Know

🌁 The Angus L. Macdonald Bridge will be closed again this weekend from 7pm Friday until 5:30am Monday—the closure will allow for the completion of toll plaza removal work.

🏛️ Opposition party leaders are accusing the Houston government of sending mixed messages about its plans for Nova Scotia's civil service and why it needs the power to dismiss non-union employees without cause.

🖋️ The Nova Scotia government is amending its interprovincial trade legislation after professional regulators identified unintended consequences that they say risked public safety.

🍔 The 13th Annual Patty Party - Halifax Burger Bash - is happening April 3 - 12.*

🎸 It’s clear why Bob Seger fans are calling FOREVER SEGER a true concert experience that invites audiences to dance and sing along once again to the music sound of their lives. Get your tickets!*

🍺 Friday After-Work Tip – Sitting in traffic or $4.50 draught and half-price apps with your crew? Easy call. See you at The Pint, 4-6pm.*

*Sponsored Post

NEWS

Hark! A Kate Beaton

Award-winning cartoonist and author Kate Beaton is in Halifax Friday to discuss the enduring connection between art-making, labour and community. 

Beaton is in town to deliver the 2025 Cyril J. Byrne Memorial Lecture at Saint Mary's University on Friday at 7pm. 

Born in Mabou, Cape Breton, Beaton will explain that for her—like many others from communities tied to work and industry—art has always been part of her life. 

“Community informs the way that you see art, how you see value in your art, and a good understanding of who you are—even when you're from, maybe, an economically disadvantaged place,” she tells The Coast. “I often return to art, class, representation and voices in my work because “Ducks” really went into that.” She’s talking about her 2022 award-winning graphic memoir of working in Alberta, Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. 

“It’s over 400 pages of drawings about work and labour, and it seemed an anomaly because we don't get too many narratives like that from those industrial spaces. And yet, I have always valued that part of me because the value was in the community, in art–and I think that's very true of the Maritimes, too.” 

The Coast’s Lauren Phillips talks to Beaton about art, community, labour and a recent comic strip in honour of Justin Trudeau’s love for JFK’s love for Canada. Or, well, let’s see what it says.

SPONSORED BY COASTAL SPORTS AND WELLNESS

🗞️ In Other News

⛺ City officials have removed the remaining tents of an encampment on the Halifax Common after issuing a notice for people experiencing homelessness to vacate earlier this month—the area is not one of the city’s designated tenting locations.

🪕 The board for the East Coast Music Association says it parted ways with the former CEO last January over perceived “serious risks” to the event—prompting objections from some members who said she was helping the organization with diversity and inclusion.

🦞 There are concerns in the seafood industry about how the Chinese tariffs, along with US tariffs set to take effect April 2, will impact the bottom line—Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says work continues to diversify the province’s market.

🏘️ More than $62M is being spent by the federal and provincial government to build 160 new, affordable homes in Upper Hammonds Plains.

💸 A woman who spent 16 days in an extreme form of solitary confinement—known as a “dry cell”—in a Nova Scotia prison is now suing the federal government for damages.

🐋 An plan to build North America’s first coastal refuge for captive whales in Nova Scotia may have hit a dead end—the project has yet to secure approval from the properties adjacent to where the group plans to build a floating net enclosure for belugas and orcas retired from marine theme parks.

⚖️ A Nova Scotia school teacher has pleaded guilty to five charges related to sex offences against at least one student—Nicole MacLeod, 37, of Murray Siding had been facing trial on seven charges.

🗓️ Things To Do This Weekend

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

🗓 The Piano Men - Still Rock 'n Roll: After his hugely popular Piano Men and Simon & Garfunkel concerts, the golden-voiced Jim Witter returns to Symphony Nova Scotia! This time, Jim and his four-piece band pick up where the critically acclaimed Piano Men left off – in the 1970s and ’80s, with even more songs from legendary icons Billy Joel and Elton John. | March 21-23 | From $48 |

🗓 Halifax Thunderbirds Lacrosse: Come cheer on the home team as they take on the Ottawa Black Bears at Scotiabank Centre. | March 21 | 7pm | $26.25 |

🗓 March Music at Teichert: Local musician Sam Wentzell will be playing acoustic blues/rock at Teichert Gallery. Stop by and catch some tunes as you browse the gallery, including our feature show, new works by Jeremy Vaughan. | March 22 | 11am and 1pm | 

🗓 Watercolours on Tap: This is not just an opportunity to create your own masterpiece; it’s also a fantastic networking event. This is a space where people can connect as individuals, not just by what's on their business cards. No forced conversation—just relaxed, authentic connections and a chance to truly engage with others. Don’t miss out on this beautiful blend of art and connection. | March 23 | 2pm | $50 |

🗓 Welcome Weekend - A Celebration of Local: Drop by the Halifax Convention Centre for for an afternoon of FREE family fun, showcasing the best of Nova Scotia’s local talent, businesses, and community. | March 23 | 12pm | 

🗓 Champions of Magic: Following a decade touring the world as one of the most successful magic shows in history, the Champions Of Magic team are back with an explosive all new show featuring thrilling and mind-bending illusions. Fusing their skills in grand scale magic, a flair for spectacle and undeniable showmanship, this interactive, high-energy show is sure to entertain the entire family. | March 23 | 5pm | $39.50 |

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The NYK Rumina container ship leaves Halifax for Southampton at 5am.

🚢➡️ The Zim Luanda container ship arrives in Halifax from Valencia, Spain at 6:20am and leaves for New York at 6pm.

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland, ME at 7:15am and leaves for Argentia at 4pm.

➡️ The Nolhan Ava container ship leaves Halifax for Argentia at 4:30pm.

➡️ The Oceanex Sanderling container ship leaves Halifax for St. John’s at 6pm.

🚢 The Sarah Desgagnes oil tanker arrives in Halifax from Saint John at 6:40pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🦪 2 Doors Down has all the seafood you want in one beautiful dish with the Atlantic Seafood Linguine: scallop, shrimp, seared tuna, ciros asiago, garlic scream sauce, mussels, pesto.

🥐 Today is your last chance to try the Creamy Dill Croissant at Two If By Sea: butter croissant filled with cream cheese, dill pickle, green onion and lots of dill.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🍔 It’s getting real Halifax! Halifax Burger Bash is just around the corner, so it’s time to check out the offerings and make your game plan for the 10-day burger binge. Each burger either comes at a set price of $8 or less, or else participating restaurants donate a portion from each burger to Feed Nova Scotia. In the past 12 years of Burger Bash, you’ve helped raise just shy of $1 million for the provincial food relief nonprofit. Check out all the offerings, from bacon jam brie burgers to lamb, halloumi and falafel burgers.

That’s it!

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