“Work is becoming less of a guarantee against poverty,” 24% of Nova Scotia food bank users are employed. 10.3% increase in food bank usage. High food & housing costs, low wages, the lack of government policy to address these issues, makes life very difficult for too many in our province. #nspoli

@franklyless.bsky.social raises the alarm about families needing more support to afford essentials as they “forage on Facebook” for infant formula. She also said the federal government could consider nationalizing production.

"Across Atlantic Canada, bustling newsrooms are shrinking or being shut down altogether. In August 2024, SaltWire Network, Atlantic Canada’s largest newspaper chain, sold its more than two dozen publications to Postmedia" Inverness Oran is a thriving local Happy to support @halifaxexaminer.ca

I guess it is the newest neoliberal trickle-down promise. Trickle-down rights. Trickle-down housing.

More information on how those restrictive grocery store convenants work. Wonder why bread is not available in a convenient perhaps more affordable store near you?

Listening to NS Public Accounts about housing with a focus on rental supplements. Excellent interventions by @adsumforwomen.bsky.social about why nonmarket housing is critical, while gov admits they are waiting for competition among landlords to self-regulate (?) things like not fixed term leases.

Ah the « free market ». An investigation into « legal instruments that can block competitors from setting up stores on certain properties. » Market shares of Sobeys and superstore from 46-70%. No need for actual collusion. Can’t even imagine a nonprofit option or at least resurgence of co-op.

« Public funds set aside for disability assistance benefits were limited by an arbitrary cap & were treated as discretionary, which resulted in many applicants being placed on wait-lists. » In violation of people’s basic rights. I wonder, as I look out at snow thinking of those who are unhoused.

Austerity playbook. Blow a $500 million + revenue hole and then start cutting staff. But don’t worry about the cuts because it is via retirement and it is not essential front line. Reminds me of Harper’s descriptor of only cutting « back-office » staff, turns out they do imp work too. #nspoli

The best comment I’ve seen so far in response to Tim Houston’s latest Remembrance Day-related manufactured drama has been; “if the provincial government really wants to show they think Remembrance Day is important, they should finally recognize it as a statutory holiday in Nova Scotia”

A democratic socialist running on free & fast transit, free universal child care, rent freeze, city owned grocery stores, a $30 min wage and tax increases to the wealthy. Inspiring people to vote like never before— winning 75% of young voters. Lessons to be learned.

Let the justices make you and Fortune friends

« We welcome Prime Minister Carney’s promise to protect affordable child care for the 900,000 children who now have access, but that doesn’t provide comfort to all the families who are on waitlists or for those who live in communities where there is no licensed child care,”

« Fossil fuels the big winner of new federal climate plan » Will no longer reach poverty reduction targets for 2030. Worsening the income gap. Health care infrastructure investment, but not in staffing. Nothing for long term care. @policyalternatives.ca Fed budget analysis rolling out

Haven’t seen this level of cuts since Harper; 40,000 public sector job losses. Also cuts to Stats Canada to the frequency of data? Remember when Harper cut long form census? More capital spending on the military than on housing. More capital on military than housing. Red flags.

On Oct 1 the Standing Committee on Science and Research passed an egregious motion calling for the disclosure of disaggregated data for research applications to federal granting council from 2020-2025. On Oct 20 they amended the timeframe to 2000-2025. @picardonhealth.bsky.social

Speaking of government budgets. Public funding used to be 70% of what universities needed and is now down to 35%.

@pamframpton.bsky.social asks some good questions about an EDUCATION report done by academics for the NL gov that was then edited and now has fake references. Taking away from the report’s recommendations. Eroding trust is costly for a democracy #nlpoli www.saltwire.com/newfoundland...

A budget with vision!

Saying, 'Well, I don't care, I’m happy to get infected. If I get infected, I can deal with it,' that's great if you choose to do that, but you're also making that choice for the others around you, too," said Halperin. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Asking for a bit of security! « Right now, part-time faculty have to apply for a separate contract for every course they teach every term, even if they have taught the same course before…many members work for years with no guarantee of income beyond short, months-long contracts. »#pse #nspoli

“I look forward to the savings in the solid waste department and the opportunity for us to increase our workforce and to better serve our citizens” Says the Cape Breton Regional Muncipality's Deputy Mayor. This is what the evidence shows of bringing services back in house. #nspoli

« These workers are the poorest paid precarious academic staff in Canada. Ranked the 3rd best undergraduate university in the country, Part-Time Faculty members, who deliver the core mission of SMU, are among the lowest paid. » #canlab

To understand some of the issues at stake and why there is strike action at MSVU starting Oct 22 and possible other strike at SMU by @cupe3912.bsky.social members Read on.

Dal academic contract staff have reached a tentative agreement. MSVU CUPE 3912 members have failed to reach an agreement. SMU 3912 part time faculty have conciliation tmrw and are also strike ready. solidarity! #pse #halisky

Community-based public utilities and cleaner energy. Interesting alliance. Can we expand these options as alternatives to NS power? #nspoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Fall is beautiful in Nova Scotia. This is a lovely 5km hike. Wolfville watershed nature preserve. The Annapolis valley is a treasure.

“We’re staying, we’re not leaving, we’re not going anywhere. They can try to come at us with their guns and their injunctions and whatever they wanna do, but we’re not leaving.” www.halifaxexaminer.ca/indigenous-n...

resounding 86 per cent of respondents said significant changes are needed to improve women's health.”Ask & they will answer. 27,317 responded, they expected 2000. Action clearly needed as well women report—”a pattern of dismissal and bias within the health-care system.” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

“A resounding 86 per cent of respondents said significant changes are needed to improve women's health.”Ask & they will answer. 27,317 responded, they expected 2000. Action clearly needed as well men report—”a pattern of dismissal and bias within the health-care system.” www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Reading media stories about prefabricated homes. Is that not what Kent homes are? Why aren’t they leading on this? Has not the Maritimes always used these mini-homes as affordable options for decades? kenthomes.com

New report. Proud to be co-author. To say our labour standards is outdated is an understatement!

"While the wage increases are welcome, there is still a gap between the new numbers and what it takes to keep food on the table and the lights on," says @csaulnier.bsky.social director of @ccpanovascotia.bsky.social #canlab www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...

Israel has just arrested Greta Thunberg and many others. Statement from the Global Sumud Flotilla: “People of conscience have been abducted. The flotilla broke no laws. What is illegal is Israel’s genocide, Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza, and Israel’s use of starvation as a weapon.” 1/3

NS’s new min. wage brings NS to the middle of the pack compared to the rest of Canada, but let’s remember that NS has some of the lowest average wages in the country & the gap between the min. & the living wage is growing. Read our 2025 Living Wages Report to learn more: bit.ly/4h0nqBt #NSpoli

Join us! The public investment in child care is one of the largest generational investments ever made. We need to get this right and that takes advocacy and pressure. #nspoli

Solidarity with these workers. Atlantic postal workers were out first. I stopped by the line last night on Almon. This is a critical service especially for rural communities. @cupwsttp.bsky.social

« It's easier to make mistakes and work through them when everyone doesn't know where to find you from one day to the next. » ah democracy. #nspoli

This will make more of a difference than specialty clinics ( which are also needed). The lack of education for all providers on the ‘specialty’ of having a uterus and all associated conditions from endo to menopause is truly astounding.

Nous recrutons ! La Guilde canadienne des médias cherche un·e conseiller·ère syndical·e dans la région de l’Atlantique (St. John’s ou Halifax de préférence). Date limite : 14 oct. 2025 cmg.ca/news/canadia...

A battle that should never have been necessary.

When: Saturday, Sept. 20, 1–4 pm Where: Grand Parade, Barrington St. (in front of City Hall), #Halifax Join us for an afternoon of skills sharing and creative activity, with a fall fair type vibe... followed by a rally #halisky

« The Public Procurement Act is there for fairness, transparency, accountability, and some components of that are missing. » Auditor general raising questions about $8.5 billion for 5,700 new & replacement nursing home beds by 2032. Skirting the tendering process for 85% of them! #nspoli

"I grew up in Gaza, and for as long as I can remember, my life was marked by war. In 2006, I lost my father when Israeli forces killed him on his farmland." 'Every day is a struggle': A Palestinian-Canadian marching against the Davis Cup tells her story www.halifaxexaminer.ca/world/every-...

I just listened & you should too—In case you needed something else to be very concerned about. This is happening in Canada. Most newspapers in Atlantic Canada are now owned by Post Media majority-owned by a US hedge fund. And these firms are making in roads in dentists, vets, child care.

❤️ this program. Should be permanent. It gets teens used to riding the bus. It builds their confidence, independence and freedom.

This is tomorrow in Halifax. A chill in-person event. You can still rsvp. Great for faculty @msvufa.bsky.social @smufu.bsky.social

Good luck at the table today @dalfaculty.bsky.social « The DFA’s calls for fair wages and supportive measures for newer and precariously employed faculty resist right-wing trends experienced throughout the world that seek to limit intellectual freedom. »

Solidarity.

“We have the mechanisms to help working families and governments just really need to ensure that they use what they have. It all fits together..." @csaulnier.bsky.social tells the Guysborough Journal. Read the article here: bit.ly/3JFFcxs #NSpoli