Joan Baxter

After Tumbler Ridge, the Carney government needs to lead on AI regulation Time and time again, Big Tech has shown itself either unwilling or unable to act in a manner that prioritizes user safety and well-being, opting instead for maximizing profits (or in the case of OpenA...

The Carney govt often speaks of AI in ways that “lead one to think they’ve bought into the talking points coming from the most vapid of tech bros rather than a government that fully understands the impacts of the potential harms and disruption created by AI.” www.nationalobserver.com/2026/02/25/o...

Make it make sense #nspoli

Exactly this: "We need to understand this deeply: the debt crisis is entirely the creation of the Houston government...for the ideological project of making the rich richer, the poor poorer, and working people more uncertain and thus less likely to object to deep political restructuring."

That should vastly improve the traffic situation in Halifax, eh?

HRM allows developer Francis Fares to flout occupancy rule at King's Wharf - Halifax Examiner Fares is required to install a second ‘above grade’ crossing so fire trucks, ambulances, and police can get in and out while a freight train is using the crossing. Until Fares meets that condition, th...

HRM allows developer Francis Fares to flout occupancy rule at King’s Wharf

reported by Jennifer Henderson, @dartjenhen.bsky.social

Apparently the new fee on hybrids and EVs has to do with the loss of gasoline revenue. “Provincial staff said the tax reflects lost revenue from gas taxes, and is based on the average tax paid by motorists.” Hate to inform the govt but paying less for gas was the point of buying the vehicle.

HRM allows developer Francis Fares to flout occupancy rule at King's Wharf - Halifax Examiner Fares is required to install a second ‘above grade’ crossing so fire trucks, ambulances, and police can get in and out while a freight train is using the crossing. Until Fares meets that condition, th...

HRM allows developer Francis Fares to flout occupancy rule at King’s Wharf

reported by Jennifer Henderson, @dartjenhen.bsky.social

The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing people local newspaper reporters are rarified elites instead of ink-stained wretches driving their Honda Civic to a crime scene so you know don’t have to rely on Nextdoor and the police press release.

This is one of Nova Scotia Premier Houston’s most oft-repeated and least challenged “stats” and claims, to try rationalize pushing the province into oil and gas, fracking, and other pillaging what is left of the province’s natural resources (aka nature).

The perils of per capita GDP: No, Canada is not poorer than Alabama This is the second of a two-part analysis of Canada’s GDP per capita. The first part can be found here. Some business and political commentators cite a growing gap between the per capita GDP of Canada...

Lots of chatter from those in the 'Canada is broken' camp over claims that Canada is now 'poorer' than Alabama, on the basis of per capita GDP comparisons. See my explainer for @irpp.org on why this claim is false: policyoptions.irpp.org/2025/04/cana.... #canlab #cdnecon /2

If you’re wondering why most of the world hates the United States these days, and was cheering for Canada. This is from the White House, for God’s sake.

Councillors scrutinize Fillmore's office budget; mayor said his staff are 'leading the charge' - Halifax Examiner Fillmore also said he never asked for a flat tax rate this year.

Councillors scrutinize Fillmore’s office budget; mayor said his staff are ‘leading the charge’

Story by me

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

The Houston government will probably demand we look for uranium or drill for oil on the properties.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announces fall referendum on immigration, constitutional questions | CBC News Premier Danielle Smith wants to hold a referendum in October on measures to limit immigration to Alberta and changes she believes would give the province more rights under the Constitution.

Absolutely batshit.
Dangerous fucking batshit.

'Shock and awe' at DNR: Wildlife division gone, managers sacked, and restructured department geared for natural resources exploitation and extraction - Halifax Examiner Retired wildlife biologist Bob Bancroft describes the elimination of the division and today’s changes to the department as “absolutely disgusting.”

We seem to have the Trumpy stuff happening right here in Nova Scotia, with mini-he Premier Tim Houston: ‘Shock and awe' at DNR: Wildlife division gone, managers sacked, and restructured department geared for natural resources exploitation and extraction www.halifaxexaminer.ca/dismantling-...

‘Shock and awe’ at DNR

Source describes the changes and sackings as “shock and awe,” and compares them to Elon Musk’s dramatic and vicious slashing of the United States’ public service by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) last year.

Reported by @joanbaxter.bsky.social

No paywall.

'Shock and awe' at DNR: Wildlife division gone, managers sacked, and restructured department geared for natural resources exploitation and extraction - Halifax Examiner Retired wildlife biologist Bob Bancroft describes the elimination of the division and today’s changes to the department as “absolutely disgusting.”

BREAKING:

‘Shock and awe’ at DNR: Wildlife division gone, managers sacked, and restructured department geared for natural resources exploitation and extraction

reported by @joanbaxter.bsky.social

Second Wonder Valley Emerges in Utah as Alberta Project Stalls With little progress to report on the $70-billion Wonder Valley artificial intelligence data centre project promised for northern Alberta, celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary has announced he’s developin...

With little progress to report on the $70-billion Wonder Valley artificial intelligence data centre project promised for northern Alberta, celebrity investor Kevin O’Leary has announced he’s developing another AI data centre project in Utah, also named Wonder Valley. #AI #datacentres #OLeary

The Fight Over US Climate Rules Is Just Beginning As the EPA moves to roll back the endangerment finding, which allows it to regulate greenhouse gases, experts predict uncertainty for business and a protracted legal fight.

“I don't see any plan, any strategy, any end game,” says Pat Parenteau, a professor of environmental law at the University of Vermont. “I don't see anything from this administration, just fuck everything up as much as you can. You can print that.”

Sounds accurate to me.

Except the conspiracy theorists wanted us to believe Trump would empty the swamp and destroy the deep state. And it turns out he and Epstein were leaders of the deep state.

IOC disqualifies Ukrainian skeleton racer over tribute helmet Vladyslav Heraskevych is disqualified over his customised helmet featuring the faces of Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.

“IOC disqualifies Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych over helmet.”

A helmet.

Honouring victims of an illegal war and genocide.

That’s not “politics.” That’s basic human morality. That’s grief. Sadly that’s Ukrainian life and culture now.

Shame on you IOC.

Carney was asked last October by Bloomberg if "Netanyahu would be arrested if he came to Canada." The prime minister twice responded "yes." But this is the second time that Netanyahu's official Israeli government aircraft has carried him through Canadian sovereign territory in the last two months.

'Canadian protocol requires foreign government flights to seek permission well before entering Canadian airspace...

CBC asked Global Affairs if the government of Israel sought permission for the latest flight, but the department declined to answer the question.'

www.cbc.ca/news/politic... #CDNpoli

Galluping into dictatorship.

Jackson Wijaya of APP and Paper Excellence fame won’t accept the invitation to appear before Canada’s standing committee on natural resources, says Domtar (the name Paper Excellence adopted). Committee members say he must and respect Canadians, or face a summons.

Trump threatens to block opening of new bridge between Ontario and Michigan | CBC News U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, poised to become the newest border crossing between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit.

The Canadian government agreed to pay for and operate the Gordie Howe international bridge in 2012 — Michigan Republicans opposed funding it.

At last report, construction costs had reached $6.4 billion.

But the bridge is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan.

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

A statement from Ottawa Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy regarding the return to office policy for federal public servants, arguing that the Liberal govt should reconsider the policy, offering sound reasons.

Liberal MP Bruce Fanjoy beat Pierre Poilievre in the 2025 federal election. When the Liberal Party looked dead in the water, long before Carney, Fanjoy was wearing out his shoes knocking on doors to defeat PP. PM Carney should listen carefully when Fanjoy speaks. And Fanjoy is speaking now:

Federal public servants called back to office 4 days a week starting this summer | CBC News The federal government expects its employees to return to in-office work for a minimum of four days a week starting this July.

Two things I’m not sure is widely understood:

1. Many public servants no longer have their own desks and work in transient government co-working spaces

2. Many describe a Kafkaesque existence of going to physical offices only to spend their time on video calls with the people sitting next to them

When he gave the Grammy to that young boy who made everyone think of Liam…even if that wasn’t actually Liam, it was just the perfect way of cutting through all the bullshit.

Every kid impacted by this administration’s cruelty is another Liam.

In another climate retreat, Canada scraps EV sales mandate OTTAWA, February 5 (Reuters) - Canada on Wednesday said it was scrapping a national electric vehicle mandate, marking another retreat from climate measures under the Liberal government of Prime Minist...

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the government is scrapping a national EV mandate, continuing a rollback of climate measures after dropping plans for an oil and gas emissions cap and clean electricity rules.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...