Susan Leblanc, the NDP MLA for Dartmouth North, has introduced a bill that would see the provincial government guarantee personal, short-term, “micro-loans” for amounts up to $2,000 from credit unions. I spoke to Leblanc briefly, by phone, on Friday and she told me the guarantee would be similar to theRead More

I had intended to update my payday loans story when I heard back from the provincial government and the local Sydney credit union on the subject. If you read the original piece, you’ll know much of it was devoted to a consideration of pilot projects being tested by credit unionsRead More

I’ve been reading a document from the Tamarack Institute this week. It’s called 10—A Guide for Cities Reducing Poverty and it was presented during the Cities Reducing Poverty: When Mayors Lead conference in Edmonton in February. I borrowed CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke’s copy. (JUST KIDDING! He didn’t attend. I haveRead More