Good morning!

While we all dive deep into the cuts the provincial government is making in its most recent budget, one cut came across my news feed that I didn’t expect.

It’s a cut that could mean junior high and high school students could no longer use Halifax Transit for free.

The student transit pass pilot program has been around since 2024, but with the province pulling out of its $1.2 million buy-in to the program, its future is in jeopardy—especially as Halifax deals with its own budget issues that may mean it can’t absorb the extra costs.

According to deputy education minister Tracey Barbrick, the program was not used enough to be considered a vital-enough service, but I’d be interested to hear the perspective of the youth who take the bus to get where they need to go.

The province says $600,000 of those savings will go to helping families in need afford bus passes, but we’ll see if they follow up with that promise in the coming months.

Best,

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

Today: 🌨️ 8°

Tomorrow: ☀ 9°

Next Day: 🌤️ 10°

7-day forecast

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

This weekend, I had the pleasure of sitting down and speaking with artist, DJ and podcaster Israel Ekanem for My Blackout podcast. This was a rare moment of good health, as I have been struggling for months with complications and chronic pain related to abdominal adhesions.

Talking to Israel was a joy. He asked complex and nuanced questions about my work as an advocate and activist. We talked about the written word and its importance as a form of healing. We discussed the ways in which we engage in political discourse, advocacy work, and showing up in community in the ways that are needed.

We also talked about pain. 

Contributor Liz LeClair talks about the politicization of victims and how it contrasts government action in this new op-ed for The Coast.

💸 Nova Scotia’s debt is expected to climb despite cuts in the most recent provincial budget—opposition leaders are calling out Premier Tim Houston’s government for adding about $10 billion to the province’s debt since coming into office.

⚖️ Two teens have been formally charged with sexual assault after a hockey hazing ritual in the Truro area—police say they were both 14 when perpetrating the assault last October.

🏫 The Canadian Federation of Students is encouraging a week-long student strike after provincial budget cuts to post-secondary institutions—the organization, representing five student unions, says strike votes will be under way with a strike expected to begin the week of March 15.

🎤 Live Art Dance partners with suddenlyLISTEN to present “Graveyards and Gardens”, a mesmerizing dance piece and concert in one. Limited tickets – don’t miss out!*

🍜 Dine Around is back. Eat out this February. Or order in. With specially-priced menus from great Halifax restaurants, there’s no reason to cook!*

*Sponsored Post

This month, get out of the house and into your favourite Downtown Halifax businesses for live, local performances as part of Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s “March is for Music” program. Enjoy FREE live music throughout Downtown, all month long! 🎶

Learn more and see all the participating businesses here.

Oodles of Noodles, the only celebration of noodles in the city is back for another year of noodle fun!

From March 11-17 everyone is invited to discover the tasty noodle dishes that the chefs on Quinpool have created. It’s a fun foodie event for the whole family! Learn More

🏒 The Canada Games Centre is being renamed to the Manulife Recreation Centre thanks to a deal between the insurance company and the Halifax regional municipality—the city will receive $100,000 annually for 10 years as part of the deal.

🌿 The province is giving more power to the police to crackdown on cannabis distribution through increased fines—it also makes changes to legislation that allow courts to identify cannabis products based on “common sense” observation.

🚨 A man has been charged after an alleged hate-motivated incident towards a youth referee at the Eastern Shore Community Centre earlier this month—the 39-year-old was arrested for mischief and will appear in Dartmouth Provincial Court.

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

🗓 Neptune Theatre presents: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: A dark comedy about a young couple who are drawn into toxic games that climax in a moment of devastating truth telling. | Feb. 26-Mar. 15 | $33+ |

🗓 Better Times Comedy at Good Robot Brewing: This weekly comedy show features regulars like Clare Belford, Dan Hendricken, Travis Lindsay, Adam Myatt, and a rotating cast of local and visiting comics. | Feb. 26 | 7:30PM | $15 |

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

🚢 The Algoscotia tanker arrives in Halifax from Corner Brook at 7:15am

🚢 The MSC Yang R container vessel arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 4:15pm.

➡️ The MSC Sao Paulo V container vessel departed Halifax for Montreal at 3:45am.

➡️ The CSL Tacoma container vessel departs Halifax for Tampa at 8am.

🧁 The Bao Journey has a new dessert dropping—Japanese Chiffon Lava Cupcakes! Soft and fluffy with a rich lava center. Comes in three flavours: custard, chocolate and matcha.

🐷 The Hux Bistro has a perfect dish to help you stay warm through the cold—delicious pig cheek and mustard mash topped with shallots.

💸 When Premier Tim Houston announced the province’s $1.4-billion deficit in January, most of us saw the writing on the wall. Major cuts are coming. Labelled “Defending Nova Scotia”, which the PC Party calls a “means of empowering our people, our businesses, and our communities,” the budget for 2026-27 will see more than $300 million in cuts with more expected over a four-year period, a 7.8 percent increase in spending, and a $1.2-billion deficit that the province won’t wrangle in. On the chopping block is the civil service, which will experience five percent cuts every year for four years, and three percent cuts to other public service sectors such as education, healthcare and Crown corporation staffing. Discretionary grants are getting axed by $130 million. In total, the government hopes these cuts will save the province around $304 million.

🚗 A new electric vehicle levy introduced in the 2026-27 provincial budget has left some EV drivers feeling punished for their choices—the new levy is expected to raise $1.6 million during this fiscal year.

💡 New legislation will make offshore wind developers pay $7,000 per megawatt of their turbines capacity annually—the levy would apply for the first 10 years of a project, and then could transition into a percentage of gross revenue depending on which amount is greater.

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