Thinking Out Loud with Sheldon MacLeod

Health care advocates are calling for national standards for Long Term Care facilities in Canada. Chris Parsons from the Nova Scotia Health Coalition lays out what they are looking for. Michele Lowe is the Executive Director of the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association and she weighs in with her thoughts.

After a campaign by industry and others, Premier Iain Rankin has made significant changes to his first big piece of legislation connected to the environment. What role do politics play in the protection and the destruction of biodiversity in Nova Scotia? I speak with Lisa Mitchell, Executive Director & senior lawyer at East Coast Environmental Law.

Nova Scotia's government says it can't wait on Northern Pulp to live up to its obligation to clean up sludge from the former Boat Harbour effluent treatment facility aeration stabilization basins. What does Environmental Lawyer Jamie Simpson think about this?

The family of retired, esteemed physician David Gass is remembering his life, work and accomplishments. But they are also shining the light on pedestrian safety concerns in HRM. And that's a issue Norm Collins has been pushing council on as President of the Crosswalk Safety Society of Nova Scotia because one pedestrian death is too many.

People of colour have to come up with coping strategies when it comes to racism and intolerant behaviour in health care. Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie is president of Doctors Nova Scotia and she says we need to do a better job of calling out those kinds of actions and words.

We're not at a record high, but experts are telling us to brace for another increase at the pumps. George Murphy with Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices explains where his price prognostication began and what you can do to affect how much you pay.

Jay Aaron Roy doesn't believe everyone who is trans should be expected to be an advocate. But the Sackville business owner does believe Elliot Page's decision to come out as a trans man is helping us all have the conversation about gender and sexuality.

One year into the pandemic and Nova Scotia nurses are exhausted and concerned. Nova Scotia Nurses Union President Janet Hazelton tells us what lessons should we take from them.

A new terminology is being used to describe the loss of journalism in some communities in the digital age. Senior Managing Editor Steve Bartlett discusses news deserts and the value of having people dedicated to telling stories on the SaltWire Network.

A global pandemic may have scuttled live performances in the wide world over but that can't stop Canada's #1 touring comedian from doing what he does best. Ron James assumes people aren't sure if these days are the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning.

COVID-19 was declared a world-wide pandemic one year ago today, March 11th. Infectious disease expert Dr. Lisa Barrett has become a familiar face in the media since then providing us with guidance, direction and reassurance. The public health expert describes the past, present and future dealings with COVID-19.

Nova Scotia has prioritized First Nations people for COVID-19 vaccinations. But not all Mi'kmaq are being treated the same, depending on where they live. And Derek Lewis thinks that should change.

Nova Scotia's Government is implementing 64 recommendations made to improve the Emergency Medical Services in the province. What does the union representing 1,100 paramedics say now that the Fitch Report has been released after 15 months?

The pandemic has disproportionately affected women in the workforce. Would fixed date elections make any difference in achieving gender parity and community representation in government?

Some of us spent the pandemic baking or spending too much time in front of our screens. But for this mother of four, it was a time to use that time to write her first children's book. Here's my conversation with Melissa Marie Keeping.

Good intentions don't always bring good outcomes. The story of a rescue dog with a history of aggression brings up the need for better assessments for mental health in Nova Scotia. Certified dog trainer Tristan Flynn weighs in with his thoughts.

The parents of missing 3-year old Dylan Ehler of Truro were in court recently trying to shut down social media posts making horrendous accusations against them. Privacy Lawyer David Fraser of McInnes Cooper discusses the intersection of speculation and defamation on the internet.

South Shore St. Margaret's MP Bernadette Jordan is offering more clarity on what will happen with the Moderate Livelihood Fishery this spring. But there are still challenges ahead for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Liberal government and indigenous and commercial fishers.

Researchers at Dalhousie University are using Artificial Intelligence to analyze millions of tweets to identify trends that could help inform public health policy. Dr. Rita Orji describes how they can predict where people are emotionally based on what they say on their social media platforms.

Associate Professor Robert Huish says public shaming has been a part of the pandemics throughout human history. But he says the people who are being targeted by the stigma has changed over the last year, especially in the Maritimes.

Tareq Hadhad and his Antigonish-based Company Peace By Chocolate are a Canadian success story. But even the new COVID-19 restrictions, he's still grateful in spite of a delay in the official opening of their Queen's Marque location on Lower Water Street in Halifax.

The Integrated Mobility Plan puts pedestrians first in HRM. Halifax West Armdale Councillor Shawn Cleary discusses pedestrian crossings and photo radar and how these policies can make the streets safer.

After using his pen to take aim at politicians over the years, Michael de Adder now has to decide how to approach drawing a new Premier and his cabinet. Does he give him a bit of a break before he comes out swinging?

He's been drawing editorial cartoons for more than a quarter century and it's a new challenge with a new premier. So what direction will Bruce MacKinnon take when he takes on Premier Iain Rankin?