‘Tis the season to say something positive

I had been hoping to say something positive about Stephen McNeil’s government — it is, after all, the season — but as soon as I could consider it, his government inevitably did one more something that was so bone-headed, so egregious, so cringe-worthy, I couldn’t help but revert to my natural nattering-nabob-of-negativism self. And yet… […]

Memo to Stephen McNeil: beware teachers bearing frustration

This column originally appeared in the Halifax Examiner February 26, 2018. Cast your mind back to October 25, 2016. The date will be significant. Before that day, Stephen McNeil’s Liberal government seemed to be in full control of its anti-public-sector-worker agenda. The executive of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union was preparing — […]

The teachers’ dispute: just another Monday in Chaos

(This column originally appeared in the Halifax Examiner on Monday, January 30, 2017.) It’s Monday. So it must be time for the latest zig in the zig-zaggy, twisty-turny, tortured tale of Stephen McNeil and the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. On Friday afternoon, the union announced its 9,300 members would resume their work-to-rule job action today […]

Stephen McNeil and the folly of false choices

“We believe we’ve delivered what is a fair package [for teachers]. If there is more required to be on the table, people need to explain where they want us to get that. Do they want us to take it out of health care? Do they want us to take it away from vulnerable Nova Scotians?” […]