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Hey Insiders 👋
This week has been a lot.
As someone who has seen their province gutted by budget cuts made by a conservative government who put them in a hole—bless Newfoundland and Labrador—I am not exactly pumped about all this.
Jobs will be lost. Services will disappear. People will struggle. All because we elected a government that’s allergic to keeping track of their own spending.
But, for now, let’s all take a deep breath as I share a story with you that I caught on CBC a couple days ago.
A rare turtle that was found in hypothermic and emaciated in Digby has been nursed back to health and flown home to the Caribbean.
I love turtles, and even had the chance to see a few when I visited the Cobequid Wildlife Rescue a couple years ago. They’re so cute and weird, and I feel like they own that cuteness and weirdness unlike any other animal on this planet.
Check out the CBC video for all the info, and try and keep positive thoughts as we go into the weekend. Maybe spend some time making protest signs. We might need them.
Best,
– B
Here’s what happened this week
Last week, we asked our readers about potential cuts to Halifax’s plans to develop a AAA bikeway network.
The proposed networks consisted of 57 kilometres of connected bikeways—protected bike lanes, multi-use pathways, and local street bikeways—meant for use by folks of all ages and abilities (hence the term AAA).
Parts of this network are already complete and AAA-compliant. Others are still under construction, in the design stages, or have yet to be fully planned. HRM keeps a map of these lanes and what’s been finished, all available on their website. The project was supposed to be complete by 2030.
Unfortunately, the municipality is looking to make cuts to prevent what Mayor Andy Fillmore calls a potential 10 percent tax hike on property owners within HRM. Fillmore, who came after bike lanes back in the summer, once again proposed a motion for staff to look at potential cuts to the AAA bikeway, some of which could leave the network with lanes that are not for all ages and abilities.
The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer breaks down the polling results and what our readers have to say on the issue.
2. The Nova Scotia Government has released its austerity budget after five years of out-of-budget spending
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.
Despite these cuts, the province is also introducing a $3.5-billion capital plan that will see expansions to healthcare, technology—including AI, which some economists are saying doesn’t promote job growth—and what the government is calling “strategic priorities”.
Since coming to power in 2021, Tim Houston’s government has spent around $7 billion outside of their annual budgets. These expenditures were never voted on in the legislature. Before the budget’s release, the province’s auditor general called for more transparency on out-of-budget spending so taxpayers know where their money is going.
For three years now, the auditor general has made the recommendation to change the Finance Act to give more financial oversight to the legislature. Nova Scotia is the only province not requiring out-of-budget spending to go through the legislature.
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.
The 2026 Winter Olympics and the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) prove that women's hockey is growing. Whether it be the gold medal game between Canada and the US, or the PWHL exhibitions that had Halifax fans fighting for a team of their own, the sport has been on a positive upswing.
However, opportunities for women are still scarce, and the new adaptation of Youngblood understands this.
The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Alexandra McDonald, who plays Jessie in the new Youngblood film, about her connection to the character and the advancements in women’s sports.
Here’s what’s happening this weekend
🗓 Yuk Yuks Halifax presents Shannon Laverty: Saskatchewan’s own Shannon Laverty takes the stage alongside fellow comedian Joze Piranian. | Feb. 27-28 | 8PM | $25+|
🗓 Dine Around 2026: All of February, stop into specific restaurants across the province for special prix fixe menus for every taste and every budget. | Feb. 1-28 |
🗓 Jimmy Rankin’s Kitchen Party: Folk icon Jimmy Rankin is joined by JP Cormier and Catherine MacLellan in this fun-filled performance at Casino Nova Scotia. | Feb. 28 | 8PM | $71.40+ |
🗓 Taste Asia Lunar Edition: A culturally-centered celebration rooted in the Lunar calendar. Experience food, art, performances and storytelling at Alderney Landing. | March 1 | 11AM |
🗓 Halifax Mooseheads vs Remparts de Quebec: Watch your hometown heroes take on the Remparts de Quebec at the Scotiabank Centre. | March 1 | 3PM | $27.25 |
🗓 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-March 15 | $33+ |
Want to see what you missed in the newsletters this week? Here you go!
That’s it! What did you think of today’s Insiders-only weekend edition?
What did you think of today's Insiders-only weekend edition?
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