Lindell Smith: more than a symbol

First, of course, there is the symbolism. Lindell Smith is Halifax’s first black city councillor since 2000. But not just… Early in his race for District 8, a campaign worker warned the corn-roed, goateed Smith he’d have to “deal with people looking at you like you’re Snoop Dogg trying to be a politician.” Rather than […]

Job one for the new council: end developer donations

Now what? With this year’s municipal elections history, the question becomes what should our new-old council do first? Answering that question is complicated by the reality our mayor and councilors are elected individually and independently. We don’t have political parties at the local level, either traditional or uniquely municipal parties. While that can be positive […]

Voting for change, not electoral victory

It will come as a surprise to no one — least of all to Lil herself — when I predict Lil MacPherson will not be mayor of Halifax after all the votes are counted this Saturday. But that was never the point, especially for MacPherson. And that is a point the rest of us should […]

Development: now’s the time to ask

North Preston’s Miranda Cain tells Metro’s Zane Woodford the key issue in her District 2 is “lack of recreation.” Rod Brunt’s main concern, reports Haley Ryan, is cycling safety on Halifax’s “shark-infested” streets. “Our issues,” Musquodoboit Harbour’s Kim Young tells reporter Yvette d’Entremont, “are just basically the oppression of rural development.” And so it has […]