Diverse diversions This week, my random things will all be things that can distract, amuse or entertain you while you’re self-isolating. Many of these things are found on the internet, as is my publication, so will be of no use to people who do not have an internet connection —Read More

So you have to stay home from work. What that will look like for you, financially, depends on a number of factors. As I write this, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has just announced a whopping $82 billion aid package — $27 billion in emergency aid and $55 billion inRead More

Nova Scotia’s long-term care facilities are closed to visitors, casinos are closed, public schools are closed and as of tomorrow restaurants will be restricted to take-out only and “drinking establishments” will also close. Why? To try to stop the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndromeRead More

The second day of self-isolation seems to be going well so far, although it was at the bequest of worried family members that we decided to go this route. Let’s face it, we haven’t been to any exotic places recently, other than a quick round-trip to Irish Cove about aRead More

If I get this right, Donkin Mine management, and our provincial Department of Labour, are calling in world-renowned ground control experts to assess the Donkin geology and shine a light on how Kameron Collieries can best proceed after its 12th roof fall. Scott Nauss, senior director of inspection and complianceRead More

Mayor’s Notebook Did you know Mayor Cecil Clarke sends out a handful of pages from his “notebook” quarterly to a mailing list I didn’t know existed and probably won’t be permitted to join? (I’ll try, but his spokesperson has stopped answering my emails.) Luckily, I have a source who sharedRead More

I’ve speculated about it going over budget and falling behind schedule, but it never occurred to me that a virus — more specifically, a novel coronavirus called COVID-19 — would pose the biggest threat to the timely opening of the CBRM’s $20 million second cruise ship berth, but here weRead More

Last week, I focused on Orenda Software Solutions, one of “two Cape Breton IT companies” on the receiving end of federal funding announced by Sydney-Victoria MP Jaime Battiste. This week, as promised, I’m taking a look at the other lucky winner, Swarmio Inc, formerly Ubique Networks. Swarmio received a $338,369Read More

Editor’s Note: Spectator contributor Shay Carlstrom returns after an extended absence with some thoughts on the ongoing Democratic presidential primary in the United States and we are delighted to have him back.   As the state of campaigning in American presidential elections now seem to be permanent, it is lessRead More

As of this writing, elementary and high school teachers in Ontario are embroiled in an escalating dispute with Premier Doug Ford’s government. Teachers have held a number of one-day strikes and, I understand, have many more planned. While the government has been putting forward a narrative that consists of theRead More