@joanbaxter
Author, independent investigative journalist, member ICIJ global network - environment, climate, and corporate capture my obsessions - allergic to hypocrisy, propaganda and greenwashing grifters. Still writing after all these years. Opinions my own.
The idea that imperfect victims arenβt worth defending is much bigger than me, and is something I had to speak out about.
What kind of world does it create when only some of us are deemed worthy of institutional support and safety?
Look, I get it: "Most embarrassing Nova Scotia cabinet minister" is a really competitive category right now.
But save space on your ballots for Education Minister Brendan Maguire, who gets absolutely bodied by @michaeltgorman.bsky.social in this clip for so-funny-it's-sad student bus pass math.
Okay, actually doing this now.
Because with the sun setting on the second full day after the nazis came after me in person, Iβm realizing no mainstream media cares to cover it and no press freedom cares to condemn it.
I donβt want to spend too much time with that realization and its implications!
I will also say that itβs a bit wild to me that no press freedom organization or professional journalistic association has tried to contact me or even put out a statement here.
I mean Jesus Christ. A little solidarity from institutions would be nice here!
Great story by @mmughees.bsky.social about the loss of jobs from the closures of museums.
I visited Perkins House in 2021 and learned about the first attempts at vaccinating people in Liverpool against smallpox. Important history that many people should know these days!
There is a straight line between values-free "pragmatism" in making deals with human rights abusers and getting involved in an immoral and illegal war. A very short, very straight line.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
I was already deeply disheartened, but seeing this outlined in such incredible detail has me even more despairing and outraged. An excellent commentary by @joanbaxter.bsky.social
Premier Tim Houston calls yesterday's protest by Nova Scotia's arts community a "Raise your taxes" rally "organized by the NDP". From the man who says he listens. Doesn't seem to have heard much yesterday.
Houston unbalanced the books with unwise tax and toll rollbacks, then used massive deficit to rationalize slashing crucial programs and public services
by @joanbaxter.bsky.social
If you arenβt angry already, then read this detailed commentary by @joanbaxter.bsky.social
The view from inside Province House looking out on the Granville Street side.
Itβs so fucking gross that the first thought from these deranged losers is how dystopic scenes of war and bloodshed are a βmassive opportunityβ for Canadaβs oil oligarchs to make a quick buck.
Just β¦. WHY?
Bob Bancroft has spent a lifetime fighting - often in vain and against very powerful industrial interests - for the health of Nova Scotiaβs forests, biodiversity, and wildlife. With N.S. Premier Tim Houstonβs latest all-out assault on nature, Bancroft now asks βWhat will be left?β Read and weep.
If the Iranians are evil for hitting civilian infrastructure in their retaliatory strikes, what does that make the Israelis who have been bombing hospitals, schools, and slaughtering tens of thousands of civilians?
Surely this Canada-wide weather alert radio should be considered a national security line item that protects Canadians, and be funded well, out of that massive new defence budget?
"Canada's energy minister says the country is poised to become one of the world's biggest suppliers of liquefied natural gas, exporting as much as 100 million tonnes per year."- CBC News article by David Thurton
I am actually concerned for the mental wellbeing of those in government if they all seriously think this is the case.
Clearly they have no one questioning them internally & they never hear "no."
There's not even enough demand to support the LNG projects right now: www.sierraclub.ca/lng-national...
The Houston governmentβs responses during Question Period are anything but clear
reported by Jennifer Henderson, @dartjenhen.bsky.social
1) If thereβs one metric the citizenry uses to judge success, itβs surely βmining investment attractivenessβ π
2) What even is βmining investment attractivenessβ?
3) Where did the other 14 jurisdictions go?
A March 1, 2026 Facebook post from N.S. Premier Tim Houston shows men in hard hats in what looks like an underground mine, and boasts about the Fraser Institute giving N.S. the largest score increase in βmining investment attractivenessβ in Canada.
Premier Tim Houston was drowned out by boos at the African Nova Scotian gala last night, after he slashed crucial arts, education, minorities, heritage, environment & climate programs. But the right wing, corporate-funded Fraser Institute likes him & failing to read the room, heβs bragging about it.
ηιͺ Office of the Prime Minister Cabinet du Premier Ministre Statement by Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand on the situation in the Middle East "The Canadian government is closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East and urges all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place. Canadians in the wider region should follow local advice and take all necessary precautions. Canada's position remains clear: the Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world's worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons. Canada and our international partners have consistently called upon the Iranian regime to end its nuclear program, including at the 2025 G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis and with the United Nations' reimposition of sanctions in September. Despite diplomatic efforts, Iran has neither fully dismantled its nuclear program, halted all enrichment activities, nor ended its support for regional terrorist proxy groups. Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran's oppressive regime. Canada has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, and has sanctioned 256 Iranian entities and 222 individuals in response to the regime's repression and its violence both against its own people, and persistently, beyond its borders. Canada reaffirms Israel's right to defend itself and to ensure the security of its people. Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security. The Canadian government urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict. We will take all possible measures to protect our nationals and Canadian diplomatic missions throughout the region." February 28, 2026
βCanada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent its regime from further threatening international peace and security.β
Well. For those of us wondering if heβd walk the walk of the Davos speech, this is a pretty big answer.
Nope.
This new inCarneyation of Canada as complicit warmonger backing a convicted criminal mobster monster breaking international (and U.S.) laws and creating global chaos is ugly ugly ugly.
It's increasingly obvious that those with the power to do so just want to blow it all up, then burn down what's left.
It's way past simple looting and wealth extraction; we've gone right to nihilism and collective suicide.
What do we call what Israel has been doing in the region? It is clearly terror against its neighbours.
Do the human rights of Palestinians not count to Mark Carney? Does it not matter to him that Israel is a rogue state, holding nuclear weapons without signing the Non-Proliferation Treaty?
These availabilities are happening just steps away from the room Joe Howe passionately defended press freedom. Someone please check to see if heβs spinning in his grave.
Upping this 2025 piece on N.S. Premier Tim Houston and his yes- and yesterday men, which foreshadows his latest budget, which attacks programs - for very little cost savings - for First Nations, environment, climate, the arts, education, culture & heritage. www.halifaxexaminer.ca/dismantling-...
I just got confirmation that Tim Houstonβs PCs cut the entire Writers in the Schools program.
This man is cutting a program that lets children meet and learn from local authors (among many many other things) so he can spend $5 million teaching civil servants to use AI.
