Houston shunts problem issues beyond the next election. Let Future Tim worry about them

First, the good news. “The province will conduct a comprehensive review of the policing structure in Nova Scotia and potentially recommend changes for how policing services are delivered,” the Houston government announced late last month. The bad news? Wait for it. First, a little history. In December 2020, then-Liberal Justice Minister Mark Furey told reporters […]

Why no Yarmouth ferry cost-benefit study? Because there is no benefit?

Nearly seven months ago, on October 18, 2022, Public Works Minister Kim Masland told reporters the Houston government was about to request proposals to conduct an economic analysis of the costs and benefits of the controversial, money-sucking Yarmouth-to-Bar Harbor ferry service. “It’ll be a very broad overview of the economic impacts of the service,” she explained, adding […]

Tim Houston is ‘absolutely disappointed’ with the Yarmouth ferry

The question is what will he do with his — and our — disappointment? I certainly am absolutely disappointed with the numbers. Nova Scotians have invested a significant amount in an operation over the last number of years and I think every Nova Scotian should be disappointed with the uptake on the service… I think […]

Short Snappers from the doggiest days of summer…

Tim Houston’s friends, Bay Ferries’ numbers, and the end of People’s Park is the beginning of… What friends are for… Well, that went well. On August 10, barely two weeks after announcing he had appointed two of his personally chosen, personal friends of many years to head up two new Crown corporations — at up […]

Random thoughts on a random day in a random June

Whatever happened to Thursday? What’s so affordable about so much housing? Why so little information about power company pay? And other thoughts on a June day. Whatever happened to Thursday? On Thursday, the CBC’s Anjuli Patil reported the Houston government had decided not to release passenger numbers for our controversial, heavily subsidized Yarmouth-to-Bar-Harbor ferry. When […]

Iain Rankin says he’s listened and learned. Now it’s time to lead

On Tuesday, February 23, Rankin got his first chance as premier to make his first lasting impression on Nova Scotians. What did he say? What should he have said? Compare with my columnist’s suggested first announcements After Nova Scotia Lieutenant-Governor Arthur LeBlanc performs his ceremonial and socially distanced laying on of hands at the Halifax […]

When is a management fee a profit margin, and does calling it either make it any less a boondoggle?

Lawyers for Bay Ferries and the provincial government were in court last week arguing we should not be allowed to know how much the province is paying Bay Ferries not to operate a ferry between Yarmouth and Maine. Only in Nova Scotia, you say. On Thursday, lawyers for the McNeil government and Bay Ferries Limited […]

Is ‘Idle Some More’ back for another season?

It’s the end of February, so it must be time for Bay Ferries to announce the start of this year’s summer sailing season between Yarmouth and Bar Harbor. And for the rest of us to ask if it will really happen this year. Shall we begin a new round of our favourite game show, “Idle […]

‘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… […]

The curtain falls on this year’s ferry follies… but there’s always next year

Transportation Minister Lloyd Hines Hines had to sort-of admit his ferry universe hadn’t unfolded exactly as planned, or… well, at all. “We’re really disappointed on behalf of the operators that we haven’t been able to mount a season…” On behalf of the operators?! The operators are making out like bandits. What about the rest of […]