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NDP leader slams cuts to Nova Scotia home heating rebate program

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · 27d

Tim Houston’s $500M tax break mostly makes the wealthy more wealthy, while his $1.2B deficit leads to clawing back home heating rebates. He’s literally taking from the poor to give to the rich. This isn’t fixing affordability, it’s making it worse. #NSPoli www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nov...

Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender says the Progressive Conservative government’s changes to eligibility for an annual heating rebate program are making life harder for families struggling with th...

www.ctvnews.ca

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Sep 24

Nova Scotia's government has FAILED to address the living wage crisis. Their timid legislative agenda isn't cutting it.

We need BOLD, transformative action, not safe bets. It's time to demand better leadership.
#NSpoli open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

Living Wage Crisis: Nova Scotia Deserves Bold Leadership

A Legislative Agenda that Fails: Inaction and Missed Opportunities on the Living Wage Crisis and Beyond

Halifax Water says it didn't consider impact of rate hikes on low-income residents | CBC News

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Sep 17

We “can’t afford” to fund water infrastructure to tackle the climate crisis and growth, but banks rake in $32.5B off workers and oil & gas (the climate crisis culprits) make record profits. Tax excess wealth. Hike corporate taxes. Make them pay for damage done. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Representatives from Halifax's water utility admitted on Monday that they didn't consider how their proposal to raise rates by 36 per cent over two years would affect low-income residents.

Ottawa commits to working with Nova Scotia to develop Wind West offshore wind farms

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Sep 12

Nova Scotia's Wind West is a chance to empower workers. Be cool to create a crown corporation to harness this resource, ensuring revenues build up our communities, not private profits that won’t trickle down. 🌬️💼 #NovaScotia #CleanEnergy www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/nov...

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa is prepared to work with Nova Scotia to ramp up its offshore wind energy industry.

www.ctvnews.ca

Storm Clouds Over Canada: Why Our Economy Needs a Worker-First Fix

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Sep 9

An economic storm is brewing in Canada, and Nova Scotia is feeling it hard. 🌪️ With a shrinking workforce and families struggling, "trickle-down" solutions aren't enough. It's time to invest in people, not just businesses. Read more here
open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

GDP is shrinking, workers are struggling, and outdated strategies aren’t cutting it. It’s time to rebuild from the ground up.

Nova Scotia public housing waitlist hits 8,200 people | CBC News

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Sep 5

The public housing waitlist in Nova Scotia has grown to 8,267 people, with a huge demand for one-bedroom units. This isn't just a market issue—it's a crisis rooted in Tim Houston’s policy failure. This must change. #NSHousingCrisis #AffordableHousing www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

New figures show a total of 8,267 people across the province waiting for a public housing unit as of June 27, an increase of more than 1,200 since last October.

Can a non-corporate grocery chain work across Canada? | CBC News

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Sep 2

🛒 Non-profit grocery stores could transform how we shop, but they can't compete when corporate giants hold all the cards. We need to check there power like Manitoba's Bill 31 anti-competitive practices. To make it so that we these smaller options can compete #FoodJustice www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Building a nationwide chain of non-corporate grocers that could compete with the giants would be difficult, experts say.

The Dalhousie Crisis and the Future of Canadian Education

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Aug 27

🚨 Dalhousie's historic faculty lockout isn't just a labour dispute, it's a warning sign of deeper systemic failures in post-secondary funding that are crushing students and weakening our economy.

#HigherEducation #NovaScotia #Education

open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

Locked Out, Left Behind:

The Dalhousie Crisis and the Future of Canadian Education

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Aug 27

🚨 Dalhousie's historic faculty lockout isn't just a labour dispute, it's a warning sign of deeper systemic failures in post-secondary funding that are crushing students and weakening our economy.

#HigherEducation #NovaScotia #Education

open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

Locked Out, Left Behind:

Living wage in Halifax nears $30 an hour, report finds | Watch News Videos Online

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Aug 26

This is a failure of policy and leadership by Tim Houston's Tory government. The living wage in Halifax is now $29.40, while minimum wage sits at just $16.50. This is why life feels so hard 50% of Nova Scotians earn below a living wage. Families deserve better. #NSPoli. globalnews.ca/video/113496...

Watch Living wage in Halifax nears $30 an hour, report finds Video Online, on GlobalNews.ca

globalnews.ca

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Aug 18

Air Canada’s strike shows what happens when workers fight for fairness & the system sides with profits, not people. Real change means a worker-led economy—read the blog #LabourRights #WorkerJustice #FairEconomy
#WorkerJustice #FairEconomy #LabourRights
open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

When Workers Stand Up:

What the Air Canada Strike Teaches Us About Power, Justice, and Who the Economy Really Serves.

Air Canada flight attendants in Nova Scotia prepare for the picket line

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Aug 18

Our economy remains precarious and weak because governments prioritize corporate interests over workers' rights. While transportation is key to a productive economy, unpaid labour and low wages deepen inequality and stifle progress. This Liberal government’s policies are a disaster. #cdnpoli

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Aug 16

Unpaid labour weakens our economy and perpetuates injustice. When workers' wages rise, everyone benefits. Solidarity with CUPE Local 4092 in their fight for economic justice! ✊ #FairWages #Solidarity
www.cbc.ca/player/play/...

The main issues for the union include wages and unpaid work for flight attendants. Gareth Hampshire has the story.

Nova Scotia’s Leadership Void: The Cost of Ignoring Environmental Racism

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 26

Nova Scotia’s future is dimmed by a leadership void. Ignoring environmental racism isn’t just unjust—it’s holding back our economic, social, and environmental progress. It’s time to confront hard truths and lead with equity. #EnvironmentalJustice #NovaScotia #NSpoli open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

How inaction and avoidance are holding back Nova Scotia’s economic, social, and environmental progress.

'No one ever calls them back': University students in N.S. struggling to find summer jobs | CBC News

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 23

Tim Houston’s resource-driven strategy is and will fail Nova Scotia’s youth. 20%+ unemployment for under-24s, low wages, and high tuition leave students struggling. We need to invest in education, fair wages, and a youth strategy for a worker-led economy. #NSPoli #Youth www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

As summer begins, university students in Nova Scotia are scrambling to find work and many say they are frustrated. Recent national figures say they're not alone.

Austria took the stigma out of social housing. Here's what Canada could learn | CBC News

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 22

Tim Houston’s housing policy misses the mark. Housing isn’t a privilege—it’s a right. Vienna shows us what’s possible: affordable homes, diverse communities, and reinvested profits. Nova Scotia deserves better than policies that let a few profit while many struggle #NSpoli www.cbc.ca/news/world/e...

While Europe struggles with similar trends to Canada of rising rents and skyrocketing home prices, experts say social housing models like Austria’s are among the best defence against a growing afforda...

Halifax 'asking rents' climbed in May as other Canadian cities saw decreases from 2024 | CBC News

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 20

Rising rents & landlord influence highlight a stark class divide: housing isn’t just supply & demand—it’s a power struggle. Gov'ts must prioritize workers, not profits, by investing in affordable housing, enforcing rent control, & treating housing as a human right. #NSpoli www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Halifax asking rents climbed in May as other major cities in Canada saw decreases from the previous year, according to a recent report from Urbanation and rentals.ca. But one expert says there are enc...

Cultivating Renewal: How Smart Policy Can Empower Nova Scotia’s Farmers and Secure Our Food Future

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Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 17

Cultivating Renewal: How Smart Policy Can Empower Nova Scotia’s Farmers and Secure Our Food Future #NSpoli open.substack.com/pub/alecstra...

Why Fair Rules and Strategic Investments—not Handouts—Will Help Nova Scotia’s Farmers Thrive and Keep Our Communities Fed

It's a 'no go' for uranium exploration in Nova Scotia

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 13

Premier Houston is right—Nova Scotia’s economy is struggling. But the solution isn’t underground; it’s in our people. Invest in education, innovation, poverty elimination, and raising labour standards to build a stronger, worker-led economy. #NSFuture #PeopleFirst #NSpoli

It’s a resounding no in Nova Scotia for uranium exploration.

www.saltwire.com

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 3

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Canada’s future rests on its workers. Nation-building must mean fair wages, shared benefits, & strong protections. #NSpoli #WorkersRights #FairEconomy

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 3

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Capital Over Communities
The push to streamline projects is great for investors—but without robust labour policies, workers are left behind. Economic justice must focus on workers first, not profits. 👥💵 #CdnPoli

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 3

5/7
Where Are the Standards?
Without living wages, safety regulations, or paid leave, the propertied economic benefit that come from these projects risks the spin offs leading to low-quality jobs. Economic progress shouldn’t come at the cost of worker dignity. 💔 #Employment #NSpoli

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 3

4/7
Unions Ignored
Strong unions = fair wages + worker protections. But instead of empowering unions, this communique prioritizes corporate efficiency. Labour advocacy has been sidelined. 🚫 #UnionStrong #LaborRights

Alec Stratford @alstratford.bsky.social · Jun 3

3/7
No Safety Net for Workers
Transitions are tough. Whether it’s reskilling or relocating, workers need support. Yet the communique is silent on training programs or fixing Employment Insurance. Who’s looking out for workers? 📉 #Jobs #NSpoli