🗞️ The curious case of the e-Ballot

Good morning Halifax,

When a man says something egregious, offensive or insensitive about a woman, I feel like my nervous system has evolved to be able to expect it and be annoyed—but unsurprised. When a woman does it to another woman, however, it feels so deeply counter-productive and discouraging. 

The idea of women being pitted against each other is an archaic tool used by the patriarchy to keep women down—because if we’re focused on each other, we won’t notice what the men are up to. It’s a plan; a distraction technique (read Kate Manne’s Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny if you want to learn more).

I really believe that one of the biggest hindrances to feminist progress is the idea that women have to compete with each other for space, attention and validation. And it’s not our fault because we’ve been conditioned to believe that space is limited. Britney or Christina? Pick one. Beyoncé or Taylor? Choose. Meghan or Kate? Never both.

Speaking of Kate—and bringing me to a point, I swear—a British television presenter and former reality TV star is facing harsh blowback after she shared her thoughts on Kate Middleton’s looks over the weekend, pondering why the Princess of Wales has “aged so much.”

Behold the steaming puddle of garbage juice:

Kate Middleton just completed cancer treatment, she is a mother of three kids and she married into arguably one of the worst families in the history of ever. And she looks incredible, not in an “all things considered” kind of way, but in a “beauty of a thousand sunsets” kind of way.

Frankly, she doesn’t need this shit—especially from another woman (who has a blue check mark btw). If you find yourself compelled to take to the keyboard to rip down another woman, please remember that this is exactly what the patriarchy wants you to be doing—and who wants to be doing that?

Love and light to you all as you age beautifully today 💖

– Julie

🌡️ Traffic & Weather

Today: 🌦️ 3°

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 7°

Next Day: 🌧️ 10°

7-day forecast

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

NEWS + OPINION

How to vote in the provincial election demystified

Those voting in the upcoming provincial election will notice a stark difference from the municipal one that just took place—there is no option to vote via the web.

The lack of a digital option may seem confusing. The last municipal election used an online system where a code was mailed to the residences of eligible voters, who could then input the code on the voting website and cast their ballot electronically. 

This absence—and the confusion around it—is even more apparent as Elections Nova Scotia introduces its new e-Ballot method for early voting, which obviously sounds like something happening online/electronically. But no. The “e” in this case just means that instead of using a pencil to mark the ballot, voters will use a secure tablet when they go to an offline, physical early voting location. All early voting from Nov 6 onward will use the e-Ballot system, while voting on the Nov 26 election day will still use pencils and paper ballots.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer goes over how registered voters can cast their ballots for the provincial election on or before Nov 26.

🤔 Need To Know

☑️ Voters in Nova Scotia go to the polls Nov 26. At dissolution, the Progressive Conservatives held 34 seats in the 55-seat legislature, the Liberals held 14 seats, the NDP had six and there was one independent MLA. Here’s a look at some of the promises announced by the three major parties on the campaign trail.

📮 Canada Post says it has issued a lockout notice to the union representing its postal workers, hours after a strike notice was issued—but the Crown corporation says it does not plan to cease operations at this time.

🎄 The holiday season is officially upon us! Stay up to date with everything happening for the holidays in Downtown Halifax here.*

👀 Halifax police are asking the public for help finding a woman who approached a 10-year-old boy on Tuesday when he got off the bus on Ontario Street, followed him and attempted to get him to go with her.

🎙 Atlantic News on the corner of Morris and Queen. Newspapers, books, and magazines in store and now a podcast. New episodes drop on Fridays.*

🇨🇦 Two Ottawa teens allegedly plotted to bomb a pro-Israel rally on Parliament Hill before they were arrested by the RCMP—the minors were were arrested in December and February over what police called a terrorist plot against the Ottawa Jewish community.

❄️ Join us at the Agricola Street Holiday Market on November 17, from 12-5pm, for unique gifts, crafts and festive cheer with mulled wine!*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY EAT DRINK HALIFAX

The Halifax International Wine Fest Returns

The Halifax International Wine Festival returns to Pavilion 22 on the Halifax Seaport on November 30. The second annual event promises to be even bigger and better this year.

Organizers anticipate close to 3,000 people to attend the show, which supports Feed Nova Scotia and the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia. There will be more than 250 wines to sample from near and far, and an on-site store managed by Harvest Wine Beer and Spirits, providing attendees the option to purchase wines tasted at the event.

This year’s edition also includes food samples from the likes of Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Paolucci pasta, ChefLive, Peacock Wine Bar and Café Lunette, and oysters for VIP guests from Afishionado.

CITY COUNCIL

Halifax climate plan HalifACT "at risk" of failing

Our new city council had its first regular meeting on Tuesday, November 12, and it was a relatively low-key affair. ICYMI, as mentioned in yesterday’s newsletter, new mayor Andy Fillmore did some bad paperwork and re-opened the debate into encampments, giving this council another opportunity to make a mistake the last group voted to avoid. 

There was also an update on Halifax’s climate plans HalifACT and LakeWatchers. For the former the plan is “at risk” and for the latter, all of the lakes the HRM monitors are slowly dying. Staff proposed some fixes and council voted to adopt ‘em. Halifax is also making a big bet on the future of energy that should save us some money. 

Council paid tribute to Jessica Brown, appointed some development officers and appointed a few people to the Board of Police Commissioners and both the Canadian and Nova Scotian Federations of Municipalities—all that and more in Coast reporter Matt Stickland’s council roundup. 

🗞️ In Other News

⚖️ The Nova Scotia Liberals are taking legal action against a Progressive Conservative candidate after her campaign handed out gift cards at a Tim Hortons in Lunenburg—saying the incident amounts to voter bribery.

🚨Two people will be in court in December after the RCMP executed a search warrant at an “illegal cannabis storefront” in Lucasville earlier this week. Investigation started when Halifax Regional Police contacted the RCMP about an aggravated assault outside a storefront.

🤏 The PC candidate for the Cape Breton riding of Northside-Westmount admits he took information from the Liberals before he switched parties last month—Fred Tilley crossed the floor to join the PCs just before premier Tim Houston called a provincial election.

⛴️ The ferry company that provides service between Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island says it expects to get one of its boats back in the water before the end of the sailing season, which is Dec 3.

📖 A Dal law professor has published a book, Mainstreaming Porn, that portrays the rise of ubiquitous free porn, concluding it is causing harm to the “sexual integrity” of girls, women and the community at large.

⚖️ A former Crown prosecutor—who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder—is bringing a Charter challenge against the Workers' Compensation Board and the Nova Scotia government over the province's limit on compensation for injured workers.

🏛️ Jonathan Fowler—an archeologist at SMU—is sounding an alarm with a new study that shows the centuries-old architecture that adds to Halifax’s heritage and historic vibe is slowly being wiped away as the city grows.

🚆 The head of an organization that advocates for rail-based public transit says building highways isn't the solution to the growing problem of traffic congestion in and around the HRM.

SPONSORED BY DOWNTOWN HALIFAX BUSINESS COMMISSION

DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN Shines Bright in Downtown Halifax

DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN, Downtown Halifax Business Commission’s (DHBC) annual lighting program, returns for its fourth year, adding light to Downtown Halifax during the winter months.

Enjoy the new Fall Abstract light projection show on the former Halifax Memorial Library at Grafton Park, from dusk to 11pm nightly until November 21.

Learn more about DELIGHTFUL DOWNTOWN here.

SPONSORED BY ART GALLERY OF NOVA SCOTIA

Art and the Digital World

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia’s latest exhibition, Jennifer Marman & Daniel Borins: Three Dimensions, explores themes of authenticity and influence in the digital age and the impacts of technology through guests interacting with the installations throughout the exhibition (like getting to play with a giant claw crane game and influencing artwork with your mind).  

🗓️ Things To Do

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

🗓 Gregorian—Pure Chants: The world’s most successful choir of all time brings the Pure Chants tour to Halifax. These eight classically trained English vocalists bring audiences to their feet with their covers of songs from the 13th century as well as songs written by Coldplay, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon. | Nov 15 | 7:30pm | From $46

🗓 Halifax Live Comedy Club's Local Showcase: Get ready for an unforgettable night of laughs with the the best in local stand-up talent. This showcase features a lineup of Halifax's finest comedians, each bringing their unique style, wit and humour to the stage. | Nov 15 and 16 | 7:30pm | $15

🗓 Valley Live: The indie rock group out of Toronto are hitting the road to promote their new album, Water the Flowers, Pray for a Garden, and they’re making a story at The Marquee with featured guest Vienna. | Nov 16 | 8pm | $30

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

⚓️ What’s In The Harbour

➡️ The Zim Asia container ship leaves Halifax for New York at 3am.

🛳️➡️ The Delphinus C container ship arrives in Halifax from Antwerp at 5:20am and leaves for Port Everglades at 11:45pm.

🛳️➡️ The Bakkafoss container ship arrives in Halifax from Portland at 8:15am and leaves for Argentia at 1pm.

🛳️ The Nolhan Ava container ship arrives in Halifax from St. Pierre at 8:15am.

🍴 Where To Eat & Drink

🧁 New cupcakes alert! The features of the week in the case at Layers are pecan butter tart, chocolate peanut butter fudge mousse, coconut Skor cheesecake and ginger molasses cookie.

🍗 When the craving for delicious snack foods hit, drop by Salt + Ash Beach House for one (or two) of their irresistible shareables, like Onion Dip Tater Tots, Itty Bitty Fried Chicken and Jalapeno Cornbread.

👀 In Case You Missed It

🎤 Canadian pop-rock legends Marianas Trench will be kicking off their Force of Nature tour with shows Saturday and Sunday Nov 16 and 17 at the Light House Arts Centre in Halifax. Hot off the release of their latest full-length album, Haven, the JUNO Award-winning band is taking their theatrical sound across Canada after finishing their US tour in October. Bassist Mike Ayley says they’re excited to take on the east coast as their first Canadian stop. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer speaks with Ayley about Marianas Trench’s new album and their upcoming Halifax shows.

🗳️ Elections Nova Scotia is investigating PC candidate Susan Corkum-Greek's campaign to determine whether it broke the law by handing out gift cards on Saturday outside a Tim Hortons in Lunenburg.

That’s it!

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