News that the owners of the Donkin Mine have been hit with 29 safety violations and 10 compliance orders since operations began in February received markedly different coverage from the CBC and our local, pro-coal, daily newspaper. Here’s the story as it appeared on the CBC website: And here’s theRead More

“It was tragedies like that, unfortunately, that led to better health and safety regulations in the mines and made it a lot safer for generations to come,” said Bob Burchell, the United Mine Workers of America’s (UMWA) interim international representative for Canada, on the eve of a July 25 ceremonyRead More

The Mooch As brushes with celebrity go, it’s not much of one, but I almost interviewed Anthony Scaramucci. At the time, I didn’t much care when my boss decided it would be easier to do the interview herself, but in light of his meteoric political rise and fall —  IRead More

Quote of the week We’ve been at it for three-and-a-half years, I would say if you reference any of those major developments you’re looking at a 10-year cycle. We’re well within, and much shorter than one could imagine. I think we are in very good shape, I think we’re betterRead More

Weapons of Math Destruction Ever since researching my stories on PowerSchool, the data gathering software used by the NS Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, I’ve been curious about the uses and abuses of Big Data. The goal is not simply to gather and store information but to mineRead More

I’m pleased to announce a new joint-venture between The Cape Breton Spectator and Tim Bousquet’s Halifax Examiner. As of July 1, you will be able to subscribe to both The Examiner and The Cape Breton Spectator for $15 a month — a $5 savings off the regular price. (And yes,Read More

Farewell, Pastor Mansbridge Peter Mansbridge is retiring as anchor of The National and I…really don’t care. I don’t watch The National. In fact, I don’t watch CBC television. I’m an enthusiastic CBC radio listener but I probably won’t be able to tune in again until Mansbridge is gone because I’ve alreadyRead More

What a night. Full disclosure: I went to bed at midnight, before everything was done and dusted but as the less interesting option — another Liberal majority — was looking very  likely. I say “less interesting” because the Danish television show Borgen has convinced me the only interesting governments areRead More

Mark Lever Buys Every Paper in Atlantic Canada You know the problems unionized workers have been having with the Chronicle Herald? The strike that’s now well into its second year? Well, pretty much every paper in Atlantic Canada is going to be singing those Mark Lever blues now that theRead More

Like two ships that pass in the ice The port [of Sydney] has a series of natural advantages that distinguish it from other East Coast harbours. For example, it is the first port of call in North America for vessels transshipping from the Suez Canal. In addition it is aRead More