Also: wind; cleaners approve contract; Dartmouth Cove; pedestrian killed; Black community members in Halifax encouraged to participate in focus groups
by Tim Bousquet


3. Cleaners approve contract SEIU LOCAL 2


6. Black community members in Halifax encouraged to participate in focus groups

7. Sure, why not?

January 28, 2025
HALIFAX EXAMINER


One of St Barbara's "non-core" assets is its Touquoy open pit gold mine in Moose River, Nova Scotia. Credit: Raymond Plourde / Ecology Action Centre
NEWS
1. Wind
NEWS
1. Wind

Nova Scotia’s 2030 Clean Power Plan graphic. Credit: Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
“Calling it ‘a great day’ for clean energy, on Monday Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau announced contracts for six new onshore wind farms,” reports Jennifer Henderson:
Together, the provincial government expects this procurement to deliver 625 megawatts of renewable energy by the end of 2028. If successful, this would reduce the province’s dependence on coal and fossil fuels by 19% and cut carbon emissions by at least 8%.
…
At the present time, as indicated by the graphic [above], 42% to 43% of the province’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, including hydro imported from Muskrat Falls. New wind projects – both onshore and eventually offshore – are key to the province being able to meet its renewable energy goals and to shutter coal-fired plants between 2030 and 2040.
When it comes to fuel costs, Nova Scotia Power is paying $63.62 per megawatt hour for the Green Choice wind, compared to about $100 per megawatt hour for coal, natural gas, and oil.
Click or tap here to read “Nova Scotia announces major wind projects to wean off coal.”
Wind is obviously a good strategy for meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals, and with battery projects in the works, increasing reliability of the grid. And even with significant capital costs, wind is the more affordable fuel option. This was the good part of the announcement (the bad part is in the next item).
But if we are to meet the lofty goals outlined yesterday, several things have to not happen.
First, the power from new wind projects can’t be siphoned for the Rube Goldberg machinery of so-called green hydrogen. It does Nova Scotia no good if, thanks to an oligarch-friendly set of tax rebates and subsidies, the economics of renewable power favour the inefficient and wasteful export plan of super-cooled ammonia to Europe over powering domestic homes and businesses.
Second, the Canadian oil and gas industry can’t dictate power policies federally or provincially. We are now witnessing the abandonment of government support for renewable power south of the border. It’s an open question as to whether the renewable industry in the United States is developed enough to carry on without that support.
However, as demonstrated by the provincial announcement yesterday, here in Nova Scotia, government financing is still needed to jump-start the renewable industry. I very much fear a change in federal leadership could undercut that financing.
Third, our consumption of electricity can’t increase at an uncontrollable rate. We’re necessarily adding a lot of electrical demand to the system, by electrifying lots of things that used to be oil powered.
Heat pumps are an example. This is not an argument against heat pumps, which are absolutely more energy efficient than oil furnaces, drastically lower greenhouse gas emissions, and are more affordable to residents. (I’m having a heat pump system installed in my own house right now). But it also is undeniable that they add demand to the electrical grid.
My real worry is not heat pumps, but electric vehicles. If our ‘green’ future is just a one-for-one swap out of internal combustion engines for electric engines on the same (and growing) number of private single-passenger cars, corporate fleets, and commercial vehicles, the added demand to the grid will be enormous, and I don’t see how yesterday’s wind announcement is up to the challenge. It’s entirely possible that all the wind power promised yesterday comes on line, but the electrical demand from electric vehicles grows so great that the percentage targets of wind as part of the grid can’t be met.
The solution for this is to change the “modal split” — that is, the percentage of people who drive single-passenger cars decreases while the percentage of people who take transit (and cycle and walk) increases. But none of the various provincial energy, environmental, or housing plans include any meaningful strategy for changing the modal split. In fact, the same government celebrating the wind power announcement has recently tabled a half-billion dollar highway plan just as it provides no meaningful money to transit systems. (It has promised $65 million for the Bedford ferry, and we’ll see if that ever becomes a reality).
All of which is to say: yes, yesterday’s wind announcement is good news. But we don’t get the promised wind future without also being clear-headed about ‘green hydrogen,’ being politically active so as to ward off a government captured by the oil and gas industry, and instituting a significant re-work of our transportation system.
2. Disaster Capitalism and the mining industry
“Calling it ‘a great day’ for clean energy, on Monday Nova Scotia’s Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau announced contracts for six new onshore wind farms,” reports Jennifer Henderson:
Together, the provincial government expects this procurement to deliver 625 megawatts of renewable energy by the end of 2028. If successful, this would reduce the province’s dependence on coal and fossil fuels by 19% and cut carbon emissions by at least 8%.
…
At the present time, as indicated by the graphic [above], 42% to 43% of the province’s electricity is generated from renewable sources, including hydro imported from Muskrat Falls. New wind projects – both onshore and eventually offshore – are key to the province being able to meet its renewable energy goals and to shutter coal-fired plants between 2030 and 2040.
When it comes to fuel costs, Nova Scotia Power is paying $63.62 per megawatt hour for the Green Choice wind, compared to about $100 per megawatt hour for coal, natural gas, and oil.
Click or tap here to read “Nova Scotia announces major wind projects to wean off coal.”
Wind is obviously a good strategy for meeting greenhouse gas reduction goals, and with battery projects in the works, increasing reliability of the grid. And even with significant capital costs, wind is the more affordable fuel option. This was the good part of the announcement (the bad part is in the next item).
But if we are to meet the lofty goals outlined yesterday, several things have to not happen.
First, the power from new wind projects can’t be siphoned for the Rube Goldberg machinery of so-called green hydrogen. It does Nova Scotia no good if, thanks to an oligarch-friendly set of tax rebates and subsidies, the economics of renewable power favour the inefficient and wasteful export plan of super-cooled ammonia to Europe over powering domestic homes and businesses.
Second, the Canadian oil and gas industry can’t dictate power policies federally or provincially. We are now witnessing the abandonment of government support for renewable power south of the border. It’s an open question as to whether the renewable industry in the United States is developed enough to carry on without that support.
However, as demonstrated by the provincial announcement yesterday, here in Nova Scotia, government financing is still needed to jump-start the renewable industry. I very much fear a change in federal leadership could undercut that financing.
Third, our consumption of electricity can’t increase at an uncontrollable rate. We’re necessarily adding a lot of electrical demand to the system, by electrifying lots of things that used to be oil powered.
Heat pumps are an example. This is not an argument against heat pumps, which are absolutely more energy efficient than oil furnaces, drastically lower greenhouse gas emissions, and are more affordable to residents. (I’m having a heat pump system installed in my own house right now). But it also is undeniable that they add demand to the electrical grid.
My real worry is not heat pumps, but electric vehicles. If our ‘green’ future is just a one-for-one swap out of internal combustion engines for electric engines on the same (and growing) number of private single-passenger cars, corporate fleets, and commercial vehicles, the added demand to the grid will be enormous, and I don’t see how yesterday’s wind announcement is up to the challenge. It’s entirely possible that all the wind power promised yesterday comes on line, but the electrical demand from electric vehicles grows so great that the percentage targets of wind as part of the grid can’t be met.
The solution for this is to change the “modal split” — that is, the percentage of people who drive single-passenger cars decreases while the percentage of people who take transit (and cycle and walk) increases. But none of the various provincial energy, environmental, or housing plans include any meaningful strategy for changing the modal split. In fact, the same government celebrating the wind power announcement has recently tabled a half-billion dollar highway plan just as it provides no meaningful money to transit systems. (It has promised $65 million for the Bedford ferry, and we’ll see if that ever becomes a reality).
All of which is to say: yes, yesterday’s wind announcement is good news. But we don’t get the promised wind future without also being clear-headed about ‘green hydrogen,’ being politically active so as to ward off a government captured by the oil and gas industry, and instituting a significant re-work of our transportation system.
2. Disaster Capitalism and the mining industry

The open pit at the Touquoy gold mine in Moose River in November 2022. Credit: Raymond Plourde / Ecology Action Centre
Henderson’s report (above) continues:
Environment Minister Tim Halman lauded the announcement of more wind farms, saying it ushers in “a new energy era that is sustainable, green, and will advance reconciliation.” Halman said the province is “unwavering” in its focus to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
If we are serious about addressing climate change and greening our grid, we need to build faster. To do that we need to get our natural resources out of the ground faster and more efficiently without compromising our environment.
In short, we cannot have wind energy, solar panels, and EVs without having critical minerals. So we are going to use our natural resources to our full advantage to help people of this province.
The environment minister said he recognizes this is “a shift,” but the government’s environmental assessment process will ensure mining is carried out “safely, responsibly, and ethically” and that “no company will get a pass on following our environmental laws.”
The Halifax Examiner asked Halman how opening up the province to the mining of critical minerals like lithium and uranium – as proposed by Premier Tim Houston last week – would have any impact on the construction of new wind farms that are needed by 2030 to comply with legislated renewable energy targets. Halman replied:
There are a lot of moving parts with climate change and energy policy. We now know that if we wish to have more wind farms, onshore and offshore, the responsible use of critical minerals is going to be an absolute necessity as we move forward because it’s going to be an intricate part of our economy. We are talking about a transformation, and a transformation takes time.
This comes just a few days after Premier Tim Houston announced that the Nova Scotia response to Trump’s threatened tariffs is to, yep, cut regulations on mining, and Houston said he was prepared to lift bans on uranium mining and fracking for methane, and left open the possibility of ending the moratorium on offshore drilling near Georges Bank.
In the process, Houston railed against “special interests” (but the mining industry isn’t a special interest, evidently) and the carbon tax.
This is Disaster Capitalism 101.
The term “Disaster Capitalism” was coined by Naomi Klein in her 2007 book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. She defines it as a form of extreme capitalism that advocates privatization and deregulation in the wake of war or natural catastrophe.
Donald Trump is Disaster Capitalism personified. He is a chaos agent, creating so much confusion and disorder that the powerful can bulldoze through an exploitive agenda for their own profit.
And here in Nova Scotia, Houston is using the excuse of Trump’s chaotic tariffs to bulldoze through a similar exploitive agenda.
(Send this item as a separate article: right click and copy this link)
Henderson’s report (above) continues:
Environment Minister Tim Halman lauded the announcement of more wind farms, saying it ushers in “a new energy era that is sustainable, green, and will advance reconciliation.” Halman said the province is “unwavering” in its focus to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
If we are serious about addressing climate change and greening our grid, we need to build faster. To do that we need to get our natural resources out of the ground faster and more efficiently without compromising our environment.
In short, we cannot have wind energy, solar panels, and EVs without having critical minerals. So we are going to use our natural resources to our full advantage to help people of this province.
The environment minister said he recognizes this is “a shift,” but the government’s environmental assessment process will ensure mining is carried out “safely, responsibly, and ethically” and that “no company will get a pass on following our environmental laws.”
The Halifax Examiner asked Halman how opening up the province to the mining of critical minerals like lithium and uranium – as proposed by Premier Tim Houston last week – would have any impact on the construction of new wind farms that are needed by 2030 to comply with legislated renewable energy targets. Halman replied:
There are a lot of moving parts with climate change and energy policy. We now know that if we wish to have more wind farms, onshore and offshore, the responsible use of critical minerals is going to be an absolute necessity as we move forward because it’s going to be an intricate part of our economy. We are talking about a transformation, and a transformation takes time.
This comes just a few days after Premier Tim Houston announced that the Nova Scotia response to Trump’s threatened tariffs is to, yep, cut regulations on mining, and Houston said he was prepared to lift bans on uranium mining and fracking for methane, and left open the possibility of ending the moratorium on offshore drilling near Georges Bank.
In the process, Houston railed against “special interests” (but the mining industry isn’t a special interest, evidently) and the carbon tax.
This is Disaster Capitalism 101.
The term “Disaster Capitalism” was coined by Naomi Klein in her 2007 book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. She defines it as a form of extreme capitalism that advocates privatization and deregulation in the wake of war or natural catastrophe.
Donald Trump is Disaster Capitalism personified. He is a chaos agent, creating so much confusion and disorder that the powerful can bulldoze through an exploitive agenda for their own profit.
And here in Nova Scotia, Houston is using the excuse of Trump’s chaotic tariffs to bulldoze through a similar exploitive agenda.
(Send this item as a separate article: right click and copy this link)
3. Cleaners approve contract SEIU LOCAL 2

Cleaners who work with GDI Integrated Facility Services review a new collective agreement. Credit: SEIU Local 2/Justice for Janitors
“Three hundred Halifax cleaners who work for a North American facilities maintenance and commercial cleaning service have ratified a contract with their employer,” reports Suzanne Rent:
As the Examiner reported on Friday, the cleaners, who all work with GDI Integrated Facility Services, reached a tentative agreement at a final conciliation meeting on Thursday. The cleaners had been without a contract since September, and in November they voted for strike action.
The cleaners were looking for better wages, improvements in benefits, retirement security, and language in their contracts that would prevent them from unfair workloads and their work being subcontracted.
The cleaners work at 50 properties across Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), including the ferry terminals, Halifax Shopping Centre, and the RCMP headquarters in Dartmouth.
According to a press release from SEIU Local 2, the union representing the cleaners, the members overwhelmingly voted in favour of the agreement.
Members were set to strike on Monday, with a rally set for the Halifax waterfront. All job action has been called off. If the cleaners had gone on strike, it would have been the largest strike ever by janitors in HRM.
Click or tap here to read “Halifax cleaners win wage increases, improved benefits in new collective agreement.”
“Three hundred Halifax cleaners who work for a North American facilities maintenance and commercial cleaning service have ratified a contract with their employer,” reports Suzanne Rent:
As the Examiner reported on Friday, the cleaners, who all work with GDI Integrated Facility Services, reached a tentative agreement at a final conciliation meeting on Thursday. The cleaners had been without a contract since September, and in November they voted for strike action.
The cleaners were looking for better wages, improvements in benefits, retirement security, and language in their contracts that would prevent them from unfair workloads and their work being subcontracted.
The cleaners work at 50 properties across Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), including the ferry terminals, Halifax Shopping Centre, and the RCMP headquarters in Dartmouth.
According to a press release from SEIU Local 2, the union representing the cleaners, the members overwhelmingly voted in favour of the agreement.
Members were set to strike on Monday, with a rally set for the Halifax waterfront. All job action has been called off. If the cleaners had gone on strike, it would have been the largest strike ever by janitors in HRM.
Click or tap here to read “Halifax cleaners win wage increases, improved benefits in new collective agreement.”
4. Dartmouth Cove

King’s Wharf from Dartmouth Cove. Credit: Suzanne Rent
“The founder of a group that wants to save Dartmouth Cove called a recent letter from the company that wants to infill the cove disingenuous and said the group is concerned about the silence from Mayor Andy Fillmore on the ongoing battle,” reports Suzanne Rent:
Jill Brogan, one of the founders of Save Dartmouth Cove, spoke at a public meeting on Monday night at the Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club…
Brogan also addressed the silence from Mayor Andy Fillmore on the issue of Dartmouth Cove. She noted that Fillmore received campaign contributions from Brad and Tom Hickey, who are the co-founders of ARCP. The Examiner wrote about that here.
Brogan said she she hopes Fillmore recuses himself from any discussions around the cove. She said Save Dartmouth Cove also contacted Fillmore several times during his election campaign to ask to meet or make a public statement on the issue.
“The silence was deafening, absolutely deafening. I don’t even think he poked his head down in our neighbourhood,” Brogan said. “His actions, or lack thereof, speak volumes.”
“It seems like the wealthy on the [Northwest] Arm have Fillmore’s attention, but we on the Dartmouth side don’t.”
Click or tap here to read “Mayor Andy Fillmore isn’t talking about Dartmouth Cove.”
(Send this item: right click and copy this link)
5. Pedestrian killed
Monday evening, Halifax Police issued this release:
Police Investigate Vehicle & Pedestrian Collision
At 5:47 p.m., Halifax Regional Police responded to a vehicle & pedestrian collision at Robie Street / Veterans Memorial Lane Halifax. The pedestrian sustained life-threating injuries and has been transported to the hospital. Police received reports that the same vehicle was involved in another collision near Beech Steet / Jubilee Road. The driver, an adult male, has been arrested for Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance. Investigators with Patrol, Accident Investigation Section and Forensic Identification Section are conducting the investigation, which is in the early stages.
I’m told that the pedestrian, a young woman, has died.
“The founder of a group that wants to save Dartmouth Cove called a recent letter from the company that wants to infill the cove disingenuous and said the group is concerned about the silence from Mayor Andy Fillmore on the ongoing battle,” reports Suzanne Rent:
Jill Brogan, one of the founders of Save Dartmouth Cove, spoke at a public meeting on Monday night at the Mic Mac Amateur Aquatic Club…
Brogan also addressed the silence from Mayor Andy Fillmore on the issue of Dartmouth Cove. She noted that Fillmore received campaign contributions from Brad and Tom Hickey, who are the co-founders of ARCP. The Examiner wrote about that here.
Brogan said she she hopes Fillmore recuses himself from any discussions around the cove. She said Save Dartmouth Cove also contacted Fillmore several times during his election campaign to ask to meet or make a public statement on the issue.
“The silence was deafening, absolutely deafening. I don’t even think he poked his head down in our neighbourhood,” Brogan said. “His actions, or lack thereof, speak volumes.”
“It seems like the wealthy on the [Northwest] Arm have Fillmore’s attention, but we on the Dartmouth side don’t.”
Click or tap here to read “Mayor Andy Fillmore isn’t talking about Dartmouth Cove.”
(Send this item: right click and copy this link)
5. Pedestrian killed
Monday evening, Halifax Police issued this release:
Police Investigate Vehicle & Pedestrian Collision
At 5:47 p.m., Halifax Regional Police responded to a vehicle & pedestrian collision at Robie Street / Veterans Memorial Lane Halifax. The pedestrian sustained life-threating injuries and has been transported to the hospital. Police received reports that the same vehicle was involved in another collision near Beech Steet / Jubilee Road. The driver, an adult male, has been arrested for Dangerous Operation of a Conveyance. Investigators with Patrol, Accident Investigation Section and Forensic Identification Section are conducting the investigation, which is in the early stages.
I’m told that the pedestrian, a young woman, has died.
6. Black community members in Halifax encouraged to participate in focus groups

From the ‘Reporting in Black Communities’ research project’s invitation to participate. Credit: Reporting in Black Communities/Professors Eternity Martis and Nana aba Duncan
This item is written by Yvette d’Entremont:
Researchers studying news coverage of Black communities are looking for people in Halifax to participate in focus groups this Friday and Saturday.
A pre-screen questionnaire for the ‘Reporting in Black Communities’ project explains that it aims to explore how anti-Black racism affects the coverage of Black communities in Canadian news, and how coverage of these communities can become more equitable.
The online invitation to participate notes the research is being led by two Black journalism professors, Toronto Metropolitan University assistant professor Eternity Martis, and Carleton University associate professor Nana aba Duncan.
Martis and Duncan are looking for Black community members who are 18 or older, are news consumers, and who have an understanding of the effects of negative media representation in Canada. Potential participants must speak English or French, and are asked to fill out the pre-screen questionnaire found here.
“Your insights and experiences are invaluable to this study and will allow researchers to better understand journalist’s level of preparedness to report on Black communities,” the researchers wrote.
Halifax is one of four cities where in-person focus groups are taking place. Other participating cities include Montreal, Toronto, and Edmonton.
Each session is estimated to last about two hours. During the focus groups, researchers aim to discuss how Black community members perceive the impacts of negative news reports about predominantly Black neighbourhoods.
Both Halifax sessions will be conducted in English and will take place at New Horizons Baptist Church on Nora Bernard Street in Halifax. Friday’s session runs from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, while Saturday’s focus group is from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
‘Reporting in Black Communities’ is part of a larger initiative on equity in journalism at the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging, established at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication.
This item is written by Yvette d’Entremont:
Researchers studying news coverage of Black communities are looking for people in Halifax to participate in focus groups this Friday and Saturday.
A pre-screen questionnaire for the ‘Reporting in Black Communities’ project explains that it aims to explore how anti-Black racism affects the coverage of Black communities in Canadian news, and how coverage of these communities can become more equitable.
The online invitation to participate notes the research is being led by two Black journalism professors, Toronto Metropolitan University assistant professor Eternity Martis, and Carleton University associate professor Nana aba Duncan.
Martis and Duncan are looking for Black community members who are 18 or older, are news consumers, and who have an understanding of the effects of negative media representation in Canada. Potential participants must speak English or French, and are asked to fill out the pre-screen questionnaire found here.
“Your insights and experiences are invaluable to this study and will allow researchers to better understand journalist’s level of preparedness to report on Black communities,” the researchers wrote.
Halifax is one of four cities where in-person focus groups are taking place. Other participating cities include Montreal, Toronto, and Edmonton.
Each session is estimated to last about two hours. During the focus groups, researchers aim to discuss how Black community members perceive the impacts of negative news reports about predominantly Black neighbourhoods.
Both Halifax sessions will be conducted in English and will take place at New Horizons Baptist Church on Nora Bernard Street in Halifax. Friday’s session runs from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, while Saturday’s focus group is from 1:30pm to 3:30pm.
‘Reporting in Black Communities’ is part of a larger initiative on equity in journalism at the Mary Ann Shadd Cary Centre for Journalism and Belonging, established at Carleton University’s School of Journalism and Communication.
7. Sure, why not?

Nothing more swells the heart of a true Newfoundland and Labadourian than seeing an AI-generated image of the provincial flag waving next to a rocket that will go to space and beyond. Why, it’s enough to drop all environmental regulations and review, and open the treasury to the backer of the firm. Credit: Nordspace
“The CEO behind the company proposing to launch rockets from St. Lawrence calls the proposed spaceport a project of national importance,” reports Juanita Mercer for the St. John’s Telegram:
NordSpace founder and CEO Rahul Goel says it will create about 200 local jobs.
He spoke to The Telegram on Wednesday, Jan. 22, about his plans. They include a demonstration launch on the Burin Peninsula later this year.
“The CEO behind the company proposing to launch rockets from St. Lawrence calls the proposed spaceport a project of national importance,” reports Juanita Mercer for the St. John’s Telegram:
NordSpace founder and CEO Rahul Goel says it will create about 200 local jobs.
He spoke to The Telegram on Wednesday, Jan. 22, about his plans. They include a demonstration launch on the Burin Peninsula later this year.
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