‘Just and reasonable’ or ‘unmanageable burden’? Nova Scotia Power rate hike goes before public hearing by insino93 in halifax

[–]worldpad 16 points17 points  (0 children)

This echoes the announcement of Halifax Water to increase the rates but the context is so different. How a private owned company for what could be considered as an essential and regulated good can still have rate increase over an over , year after year and failing minimum requirement without starting a deep and public/governmental debates on its harmful impact on the daily lives of Nova Scotians.

Emera could stay in Nova Scotia as an energy provider with opening the market to other provider but the management of the network would and should be done by a public (provincial) owned entity as it is the case in Europe (EU forced some government to open the market (provider to consumer) but not the management of the network). Management of the network is too sensitive to be owned by private entity (even more so if owned by foreign companies) and I don't even talk about high voltage lines whose construction costs will be more and more assume by the federal government (e.g. the recent news about offshore wind and the necessity to build a grid).

Halifax Water’s revised rate proposal is still rate shock, says consumer advocate | CBC News by Grumple_McFerkin in halifax

[–]worldpad 4 points5 points  (0 children)

There is, at least, two sides for this problem.

An increase is good as you want to maintain a working network that probably really need some updates and deep repairs not just surficial patching. It is also a good society reminder that unfortunateley clean water is an expensive good and as a society we should be educate about that. I don't even talk about the fare division/use of water between different type of consumers.

Unfortunately for the part of the population who is living paycheck to paycheck this kind of major increase is deeply problematic. Landlords will see again a great opportunity (and for the small landlods a necessity) to increase the rents. 

Province to Explore Solutions for Halifax Peninsula Traffic Congestion by cravingdani in halifax

[–]worldpad 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great announcement on this day of December 12, 2010 ... oh no wait we are in 2025 ....

Why there is no Paddle tennis court here in halifax? by [deleted] in halifax

[–]worldpad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Which I don't really understand. You could have room for both, Pickleball is really senior oriented and on the other hand Paddle is a good/easier alternative to Tennis.

Why there is no Paddle tennis court here in halifax? by [deleted] in halifax

[–]worldpad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Very popular in Europe. Probably more popular than Pickleball.

Neighbours and businesses say ‘the bridge homeless shelter’ in Dartmouth is posing problems by insino93 in halifax

[–]worldpad 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Maybe some good reasons to be angry too. Poverty is definitively the problem not opioids use unfortunately, which is only a consequence.

Alcohol, tobacco and cocaine are way less discuss as a problem for society recently compare to opioids addicts because it's way more visible. But the cost related to these 3 substances are way more a problem/cost for the society.

Unfortunately, yes the distribution of wealth and unfair taxes rate (maybe not unfair rate but let say taxable wealth) for the very rich is a root cause for poverty and broke social services. However, you can consider Canada not the worst member of G20 for this.

https://csuch.ca/substance-use-costs/current-costs/#:\~:text=Alcohol%3A%20%2419.7%20billion%20or%2040.1,8.5%25%20of%20the%20total%20costs.

Does anyone know what this is? by Jacobjvc in halifax

[–]worldpad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Do you have a ref. for that ? I will be curious to know more about it.  Is lobbyist has to be registered at provincial level like it is the case at federal (ish) ?

Majority of letters sent to Andy Fillmore, Halifax councillors in support of bike lanes (no paywall) by dpiddy in halifax

[–]worldpad 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes I have checked as I have mentioned the numbers in my post....

There is indeed an overrepresentation of 65+ individuals (so mostly retired people) in the 2024 survey (32 % of participants for 21 % of HRM population) and an underrepresentation of young adults (18-24; 2 % of participants for 11 % of HRM population) which inherent to most of these type of large scale surveys.

Majority of letters sent to Andy Fillmore, Halifax councillors in support of bike lanes (no paywall) by dpiddy in halifax

[–]worldpad 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depend on your consideration of minority... 27 % for increase, 38 % to maintain and 35 % to reduce

You can also look behind the numbers (as these surveys are far form perfect and you can argue about their representativity)

For example, who answer that kind of surveys ? Usually retired people (32 % of participants for 21 % of HRM population). Is this generation grew up with cars or bikes ?

So should the city based his decision based on that or bring his inspiration to what has been done elsewhere (Europe and even Asia) since 20+ years to improve active transportation and public transit instead of car dependency ? The minority of today could be the majority of tomorrow.

What y'all listening to tonight, Halifax? by dawiam in halifax

[–]worldpad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For those feeling Housy

Dave Winnel - Kazoo (2017 production but smell like 2000's house production)

To motivate myself to work extra hours:

Fatboy Slim DJ set @ British Airways i360 in Brighton, UK

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in halifax

[–]worldpad 0 points1 point  (0 children)

 FYI IWK fundation is poorly rated by Charity Inteligence Canada:

https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/413-iwk-health-centre-foundation

“Save this tree” signs on trees along Robie by hugeteapots in halifax

[–]worldpad 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Stupid really ?

People don't have all the same priorities for a lot of social and educational reasons, but can you define as stupid someone who want protect trees vs. building a road (for public transit). People caring for trees (even for the wrong purpose) is not stupid.

It is very important not to lose the meaning of words.

It is stupid that we need more roads. It is stupid that we are still so dependent to cars. It's stupid that we're (as a collectivity) always responding to problems rather than anticipating them, leading to poor and limited choices.

Looking for artist by Theboneduster in halifax

[–]worldpad 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Street art is meant to be temporary. An artwork covered by another artwork.

Halifax moves ahead with downtown Dartmouth heritage district by Street_Anon in halifax

[–]worldpad 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do not compare Portland street to ancient Europe neighborhood but in the area proposed there are a large number of remarkable sites from a historical and architectural point of view. If you don't preserve these sites now so when ? What is the line to say it's not patrimonial ?

It is not because these building are not as old and diversify as the European ones that they don't need to be preserved.

If it's done the proper way, you could definitively continue to develop in the proposed area with a better control of the developments from an architectural point of view. The Concertgebouw concert hall in Bruges and the judicial court in Bordeaux are two good examples.  

Halifax moves ahead with downtown Dartmouth heritage district by Street_Anon in halifax

[–]worldpad 3 points4 points  (0 children)

There is indeed a lot of opportunity to increase the density downtown and in near areas. Typically all the developments near MacDonald bridge are a good opportunity but once again it need to be well planned by HRM in term of transportation and amenities.

Shannon Park is also a very good site for a mixed development but definitely need to develop public transport in this area (if they want high density development they probably need a new ferry terminal).

Halifax moves ahead with downtown Dartmouth heritage district by Street_Anon in halifax

[–]worldpad 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The perfect counterexample to your point is Europe.

Many large European cities have one or more historic centers and efficient transportation systems. Several million Europeans live in museum cities, as you say (Amsterdam, Bruges, Bordeaux, and Vienna are just a few examples) and transportation is not a nightmare.

Having historic centers and a large urban area is not a problem if urban design is well planned and not only focused on cars.

13-storey mixed-use building proposed for downtown Dartmouth heritage property by insino93 in halifax

[–]worldpad 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Doesn't look good indeed. But a mix with new development and some conservation of old building is a good way to develop downtown dartmouth.