First, the good news: The Statistics Canada graph appeared in a Bloomberg story that attributed the reduction in child poverty directly to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s child benefit program, which was worth $25 billion to Canadian families in 2017 up from $19 billion in 2015. Statistics Canada itself says: InRead More

The CBRM has asked the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal to overturn the UARB’s decision in the case of a proposed Big Pond RV park. The papers were filed on February 21 but CBRM regional solicitor Demetri Kachafanas told the CBC it could be “months” before the case goes toRead More

I’m writing today about what Parks Canada has said about the moose cull on North Mountain in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park (CBHNP) and what it hasn’t said. The cull, we are told, is intended to preserve the park’s endangered boreal forest, which suffered severe damage from the spruceRead More

As I mentioned in last week’s piece on The Lakes Golf Club in Ben Eoin, I had asked ACOA, which holds a $3.5 million equity stake in the club, some questions about the sale. I was promised an answer by 5:00 PM last Tuesday, which was pushed to 11:00 AMRead More

Thanks to a Spectator reader for reminding me that this article — written last year during police budget discussions — remains pertinent in 2019. Last year at this time, Cape Breton Regional Police Service (CBRPS) Chief Peter McIsaac made the case for what he termed a “slight” $763,650 (2.9%) increaseRead More

What to do this week These days, I mark time, waiting for my leeks and onions to sprout and it’s time to start my early spring greens next month. It is a good time to pay attention to the indoor garden and other small tasks. Houseplants, particularly those that spendRead More

Extra! Extra! I think Tim Bousquet of the Halifax Examiner may just have done the children of South Africa a solid. Want to know how? You’ll have to read his amazing story: “John Risley’s South African Adventure.” And yes, the article is behind a paywall, but think about it: TimRead More

Do you ever get the feeling there’s a chase but you’re not quite sure how to cut to it? That’s the way I feel about the sale of The Lakes Golf Club. There’s a bottom line here but I can’t quite put my finger on it. On the one handRead More

I needed three electronic devices and one notebook to follow last night’s CBRM council proceedings from home. I tuned into the livestream on my phone and cast it to my television, but the image was flickering so badly I was afraid it might trigger a light-induced seizure, so I openedRead More

CBRM Council held its regular monthly meeting last night and heard not one but two presentations on healthcare. All told, they spent almost an hour on the issue and if you think that means they heard interesting, concrete proposals for solving our healthcare problems then [SPOILER ALERT] you’ll be asRead More