🗞️ Supermarket sweep

Good morning Halifax,

You know that saying, when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time?

First, premier Tim Houston made it clear that he does not intend to pass Bill 144 that would ban the use of NDAs in cases of sexual assault or discrimination—helping to maintain a culture of gender-based violence in this province. 

Then, he refused to adopt a bill that would call domestic violence what it is—an epidemic—until he was cornered and bullied into it by four badass women in the hallways of the legislature.

And now, a judge is reprimanding his government for mishandling the cases of two Nova Scotians women who were forced to pay for out-of-country surgeries to treat debilitating medical conditions, saying that the province violated their rights by refusing to cover the procedures. Houston’s government spent two years fighting the women’s  judicial review in court, but don’t worry, now that he’s on the campaign trail, he says he’s sorry.

Let’s not get it twisted: In refusing to pass Bill 144, saying no to legislating that domestic violence is an epidemic and denying these women medical procedures, Tim Houston is making it abundantly clear to me that he does not care about the health and safety of women in this province.

Believe him.

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌤️ 5°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 8°

Next Day: 🌧️ 18°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS + OPINION

Groceries will be a key issue in the upcoming provincial election

As of last Saturday, it's official. Provincial election season is here and with it comes potential policies from each party to convince you that they can make your life better if they're in power. 

And there are few things that could make the lives of Nova Scotians better than making groceries more affordable.

Zach Churchill's Liberal Party outlined their plan on groceries on Oct 29, offering to cut HST on all food at the grocery store. Basic groceries, such as your wheat and milk, are typically zero-rated, but goods like granola and meals made in-store are typically taxed. The Liberals’ plan would see that tax eliminated.

Tim Houston’s PC Party is also focused on affordability, having announced an overall HST reduction from 15% to 14% that they say would take place next year. They have also called the Liberals “sneaky” carbon tax lovers, stating the federal carbon tax will allow grocery prices to continue rising. 

While the NSNDP hasn't released a full statement on their plans for groceries and affordability, leader Claudia Chender said on local radio that they would consider cutting taxes on food and everyday goods.

But how do these plans stack up? Would they help make a dent in grocery prices and give people more financial wiggle room, or are they merely a gamble at your vote? 

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over each party’s plan to tackle groceries.

🤔 Need To Know

🗳️ Elections Nova Scotia is warning the public about an email scam that appears to be coming from the agency. A robo-email is circulating, encouraging people to click and provide their personal information in order to prepare for internet voting—but there is no online voting in this general election.

📬 Bargaining talks between Canada Post and its workers are nearly down to the wire as both sides try to avoid a strike that could have impacts right across the country.

🇨🇦 Check out A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada, the first national exhibition that reveals a history many Canadians don’t know about.*

🕯 Atlantic Jewish Council Presents: The 21st Annual Holocaust Education Week. Join 5 keynote speakers between October 27 – November 6. Programs are open to the public and FREE to attend. Learn more.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY MUSIC NOVA SCOTIA

Nova Scotia Music Week 2024: Wolfville/Esoqwatik

Nova Scotia Music Week kicks off in Wolfville/Esoqwatik THIS WEEK! Get your tickets and plan your weekend road trip to see the best music the province has to offer with 99 Nova Scotian acts performing November 7-10!

CITY

It’s a new day for city council

Halifax’s new council will be sworn in tomorrow, Tuesday November 5, and a new era of governance in the HRM will begin. 

Since the election results were tallied, many people (read: my editor) have been asking how I think our new council will do. These people (again my editor) believe that after evaluating most of our new councillors with extensive written and oral exams, I hold some sort of insider knowledge about what our new council will be like on their first meeting scheduled for Nov 12. Annoyingly, these people, like my editor, are probably correct. 

The only issue is that I gathered a lot of information about our new councillors and it would be helpful if what people want to know about our new council could be a little more focused. To that end I’d like to know, do you have any questions about what this council’s future will hold? Please send them to [email protected] or reply to this email. I will try to answer as many of your questions as possible in next week’s council preview article and/or Grand Parade episode. 

But do you crave in-depth political reporting and analysis more frequently than every four years? Would you like to know what our councillors are up to between now and the next election? Then boy do I have good news for you! Every Monday, The Coast sends out a municipal politics newsletter that is only available to our subscribers. Do you want to be the most informed person in the group chat? Sign up today.

🗞️ In Other News

🛍️ Nova Scotia RCMP’s Commercial Crimes Unit is reminding retailers to take extra caution and be wary of what could be fraudulent payments—especially when receiving payments over the phone.

🍬 The RCMP is investigating after reports of cannabis and a razor blade being found in Halloween treat bags in the Halifax area.

📇 A group advocating for seniors believes Nova Scotia’s elections agency has made a mistake by opting not to mail out voter information cards in the current provincial campaign—calling the move short-sighted and arguing it risks excluding a key demographic from the voting process.

💉 Some Nova Scotia parents are speaking out about their struggles to get their young children immunized with newly authorized vaccines meant to protect infants from RSV.

⛺ Friday was eviction day for the residents of the University Avenue tent encampment—but 15 or so tents remain on the median.

🎵 Sheri Jones—a founding director of the East Coast Music Awards—has gone public with concerns about the way the organization is conducting its busines, saying all of the long-term contractors have been let go with the exception of one.

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Holocaust Education Week—Survivor Testimonial: Join the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 and the Atlantic Jewish Council as Holocaust survivor Eva Kuper shares her story of survival and reclamation of identity. | Nov 4 |  6:30pm | Free

🗓 Heather Taves' Beethoven Journey: In 2023, the great Canadian pianist Heather Taves undertook the truly monumental task of studying and performing all 32 of Beethoven's piano sonatas. Over the past year, she has read, performed, thought and blogged about Beethoven and his world. Tonight's selection of sonatas presents those that were dedicated to the women in Beethoven's life. | Nov 6 |  7:30pm | $35

🗓 The Art of Everyday—A Still Life Collection: This exciting new exhibition presented by The Prow Gallery features six contemporary artists who bring their distinct vision to the timeless genre of still life. Featured Nova Scotian artists are Teresa Bergen, Philip Hodges, Patricia Lindley, Marilyn McAvoy, Tim McGuire and Farah Niarad. | Nov 7-24

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

🛳️➡️ The Atlantic Sail container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 5:20am and leaves for New York at 5pm.

🛳️➡️ The Divine Ace vehicle carrier arrives in Halifax from Jacksonville at 6:10am and leaves for Baltimore at 12pm.

🛳️➡️ The Tropic Lissette container ship arrives in Halifax from Philipsburg at 6:15am and leaves for West Palm Beach at 8pm.

🛳️ The NYK Constellation arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 3:20pm.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🍅 Dive into the Mediterranean vibes with the Ellinkos Patatas at Little Fish Wine Bar: crispy fingerling potatoes, creamy feta, pepperoncini, cucumber and tomato salsa, Kalamata olives, signature remoulade. 

🍹 Who said spritz towers were limited to summer? Embrace the season with the new spritz tower now on the cocktail menu at La Piazza, featuring the Classic Aperol Spritz, Apple Cider Spritz, Spiced Cranberry Spritz and Rosemary Garden Spritz.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🏛️ Is it okay for a city councillor to vote against a proposed construction and demolition disposal yard? Yes. Is it okay for a councillor to be so biased and “incapable of persuasion” to legitimate arguments that they vote against a proposed C&D site even though it is well within the city’s rules and precedents? That’s a completely different question—one that a provincial judge recently answered with a rebuke to councillors David Hendsbee and Trish Purdy. The Coast’s Matt Stickland looks into the judge’s findings, and explains how a councillor has to know when it’s time to legislate and when it’s time to administrate.

🥀 Halifax police say a 24-year-old woman was struck by a Halifax Transit bus at the downtown intersection of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street Thursday morning just before 7am—she was pronounced dead at the scene.

💙 The daughters of a woman who was killed in Nova Scotia 12 days ago by her husband are calling on the RCMP for more transparency around domestic violence—alleging the force is covering up what happened because their mother's husband was a retired Mountie.

That’s it!

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