Craig McCormick

I've sent an email to every PC & LIberal MLA, as well as to my NDP MLA. Using Morris St. to manufacture a crisis & test the limits of Bill 24 is dangerous to our democracy. This precedent would negatively affect Nova Scotians for years to come. Power shouldn't be consolidated into one level of gov.

If you need some inspiration, you can find lots of great letters in the email correspondence from the June HRM Council meeting, available here for your reading pleasure:
Thanks for writing #KidicalMassHfx and #BikeHfx family and friends!

5/5

drive.google.com/file/d/1-9jZ...

Anikin/Padme 4-panel meme: "I'm going to override municipalities" "to permit housing, right?" ... "To permit housing, right?"

On behalf of #BikeHfx: yes, and we are so tired of this shit.

Sucks how provincial governments in three Canadian provinces (Ontario, Alberta, and Nova Scotia) are trying to strong arm municipalities into getting rid of bike lanes.

Tesla hit with $243 million in damages after jury finds its Autopilot feature contributed to fatal crash The verdict follows a three-week trial that threw a spotlight on how Tesla and CEO Elon Musk have marketed their driver-assistance software.

A hugely important verdict.

The victims were pedestrians, so Tesla can't argue they knew/accepted Autopilot's risks.

People walking, biking, and inside other cars didn't consent to be Elon Musk's guinea pigs.

A judge struck down the Ford government’s bike lane removals in Toronto. What comes next? This week an Ontario court struck down a provincial law that required three bike lanes to be removed in Toronto and which also limited the installation of new bike lanes by municipalities. Here’s what...

Reminds me of the bike lane crisis that is going on in Halifax between the municipality and the province...

www.cp24.com/politics/que...

CC: HALIFAX, NS

Dear Councillor Clearly, Mayor Fillmore, and the rest of Council, At the beginning of June I reached out with the letter below to tell you how important it is for Halifax to forge ahead with our AAA bike network. I spoke about how crucial this is for me as a parent of two small children, who ride on my bike and alongside it on their own bikes, how necessary it is for me as a person with mobility issues, for whom the bike is a lifeline and a mobility aid, and how supportive I am of bike lanes as a driver, since every time someone can choose an alternative to driving the streets are less congested for those who are driving. I am beyond grateful to those of you who heard Halifax speak, and responded with support for continuing to build our bike network. I have listened to the debates as you’ve taken concerns seriously and handled these things in good faith. Thank [you].

I do not have words to articulate the frustration I feel now that Premier Houston has inserted himself into municipal minutiae, both in his threats regarding the Morris Street plans, and the very credible rumours about expanding mayoral powers. This is an egregious power grab that uses bike lanes as a wedge issue to put more power and influence in the hands of our Mayor and Premier. (It is frankly embarrassing that Mayor Fillmore was apparently unaware of the boundaries of the role while he campaigned for the job, and it is underhanded to wildly expand mayoral powers after he squeaked into office with one of the most underwhelming vote shares of any mayor in our lifetimes.) I was encouraged to hear so many of you speak in favour of our democracy, and I encourage you to foster that passionately.

Morris Street is an essential part of our bike network. I do not need to tell you how much careful work, consultation, and good faith has gone into the approved plan. This is what Halifax has chosen, through Council, and the Premier has no business becoming involved, especially as it is clear he does not know anything about the actual function of this particular street, nor the overwhelming tide of data regarding bike lanes and congestion. I urge you with the strongest possible intention not to capitulate to Premier Houston’s threats. Do not obey in advance. If Tim Houston wants to flex this muscle over something so paltry to the province, but so important to the city, then make him make that choice. Haligonians deserve your courage, and Nova Scotians deserve to see his true colours.

And to Council.
#BikeHfx

There is all sorts of interesting information in the recent bike lane decision out of Ontario.

63% of staff at Sinai Health (a major hospital in downtown Toronto) cycle to work (2017 survey)!!!

Just imagine if that were possible for staff & patients here in Halifax.

Read here: canlii.ca/t/kdk2t

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre's new community hub breaks ground The centre's executive director, Pam Glode-Desrochers, spoke with Amy Smith about the long-awaited cultural centre and community hub in Halifax.

Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre's new community hub breaks ground
#Halifax #NovaScotia

www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

A view of the Halifax waterfront seen through the square frame of a brick wall on Georges Island

On Georges Island. No apostrophe!

Halifax, framed.

Is the Carney government abandoning national pharmacare? The Liberals campaigned on it. Why do they now seem to be backing away from it?

"Without stronger privacy laws or purpose-built Canadian cloud infrastructure, we risk ceding control of our population health data to the hostile hyperpower in our basement."

Probably my favourite line in this week's roundup (story 5).

canadahealthwatch.ca/newsletter/2...

#FlyCROSS mentee surveys are open for #earlycareer #Drosophila scientists. If you're a #gradstudent #postdoc or pretenure faculty or equivalent - fill up the survey by Sept 1 to participate & be matched by #mentor of your preferences to gain guidance to your unique needs. @flybase.bsky.social

Nova Scotia and Halifax democracy are being threatened with Morris as cover. Write the premier, MLAs below, and your own.

legs of runners

Exercise can reduce pain. But you don’t have to just work out harder to feel the benefit. New research suggests that fitness level and sex may play a bigger role than exercise intensity in how we experience exercise-induced pain relief.
buff.ly/6oo87SW

⬇️ Me screaming this data at my students on the first day of class.

Nova Scotia Environment Minister Tim Halman issues laughably embarrassing report on environmental progress - Halifax Examiner There is a lot of hand-waving and insincerity in the document.

Nova Scotia Environment Minister Tim Halman issues laughably embarrassing report on environmental progress

Morning File by me.

If you’re into this and you’re in Nova Scotia check out the deep sky observatory in Tusket. Highly recommended. www.deepskyeye.com

I really don’t like this pushback from HRM Staff on issues that have been studied extensively already with lots of public consultation, just to comply with capricious Provincial politicians.
Like, whose side are you on?

Looking forward to this important meeting, and appreciating our municipal councillors resisting pressure from other levels of government, with no help from mayor or HRM staff.
Evidence-based decision making HAS to win out over ‘vibes-based’, or we’re doomed.

Halifax staff want council to rescind decision on Morris Street bike lane project - Halifax Examiner Also: Local Street Bikeways, congestion in Hammonds Plains and Lucasville, and expansion to the provincial lobbyist registry.

It looks like #Halifax regional council's meeting on Tuesday will be another marathon session. I went through the agenda and wrote up some of the highlights, which really all tie together.

www.halifaxexaminer.ca/government/c...

A blue pocket bike map 🗺️

Got my bike serviced today and picked up this cute little pocket bike map. Realized later though that it's just sackville and Dartmouth. Going to have to find a Bedford/Mainland Halifax option!

Really, *really*, Halifax folks, write your councillors and the city clerks about this. Even if they're friendly. Even if you already did. The NSPCs are running ad campaigns to try to drum up support for their goofy auto mania.

I absolutely love working in the N.S. film sector. I've been getting lots of fun and varied work, and met some super talented and impressive people.

Especially with the U.S. being so unsafe, Nova Scotia is a great option for TV and movie productions.

Come shoot your next project here, artists!

Day 2 of my Lockout playlist:

When @dalhousie.bsky.social’s Board refuses to negotiate, walks away from the table, & threatens a lockout in August, do they know the damage they’ll do to Dal?

They need to think!

@dalfaculty.bsky.social thinks it’s better to work to get a deal. #KeepDalStrong

A list of grant opportunities and deadlines that reads: CIHR Project Grant Registration Deadline: August 13 Heart & Stroke Foundation Canada - Grants in Aid ORS Deadline: August 14 NSERC Ship Time Program ORS Deadline: August 18 Cystic Fibrosis Canada - Seed Grant ORS Deadline: August 19 Cystic Fibrosis Canada - Seed Clinical Trial Planning Grant ORS Deadline: August 19 Heart & Stroke Foundation Canada - New Investigator Award ORS Deadline: August 20

Look at just some of the grant opportunities--sent by a VP--that @dalhousieu.bsky.social faculty likely won't be able to apply for if the Board of Governors locks us out on August 12th, as it seems to be threatening. Is this really where "ambition meets opportunity"? @dalfaculty.bsky.social

Ford government to appeal court ruling which deemed bike lane removal unconstitutional | Globalnews.ca The Ford government's plans to tear out dedicated bike lanes from three Toronto routes has been deemed to be unconstitutional, halting a populist pledge driven by the premier.

BREAKING: “The Ford government’s plan to tear out dedicated bike-lanes from 3 Toronto routes has been deemed to be unconstitutional, according to a ruling by an Ontario court, halting a populist pledge driven by the premier.”

This is VERY good, life-saving news for Toronto, and for Ontario cities.

If you think this is a good move, or even a step in the right direction, or want to see more action like this, and you have a Liberal MP, write them and praise this decision. There is going to be intense, well-organized push-back.

Oh wow, the ONLY report with the reasonable power to make transit outside of urban Halifax even remotely survivable and its being held back in favour of installing strange over-reaching legislation first. This is something to follow closely.