The federal election campaign is down to the final week and Narrative Research has been asking questions. How likely are you to know all of the candidates on the ballot in your riding? What is the most important issue to you this time? Will you vote for the candidate, the leader or the party? We discuss this with Narrative Research COO and Partner Margaret Chapman.

Halifax Regional Police, the municipality and the Nova Scotia government have all apologised to the African Nova Scotian communities for racialized policing known as street checks. In 2019 a report said data from HRP showed black civilians were disproportionately affected by the policy. This week, the joint policing partners in HRM announced they won't be offering an apology. In this conversation, we hear from District 15 councillor Lisa Blackburn discusses the RCMP's decision and the ongoing independent review of the joint policing model.

Nova Scotia is putting in place a policy to require people to show they are fully vaccinated before being allowed to do non-essential activities. Those include going to restaurants, gyms and live performances as we head into Phase 5 of the reopening plan. Government says it's only temporary, until the threat of a fourth wave driven by the Delta Variant passes. Is there still an argument that it is a violation of their Charter Rights? For his opinion, I spoke with Professor Emeritus of the Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie's Wayne MacKay.

COVID-19 restrictions have impacted a lot of sports and entertainment events over the past 18 months. And the promoters of a Mixed Martial Arts event in Nova Scotia are trying to make sense of a recent notification from the official sanctioning agency. Jon Foster with Fight League Atlantic describes how they had to move their upcoming card to New Brunswick. And Mickey MacDonald, the Chair of the Nova Scotia Combat Sports Authority (NSCSA) gives us his reasons for pulling the accreditation and his future after his current term expires at the first of October.

She's been a social worker, educator, researcher, community activist and advocate of social change. And now that she's an Independent Senator, I wanted to hear from Wanda Thomas Bernard about what's happening in politics in Canada. We discuss the appointment of a white male to head the Department of African Nova Scotian Affairs and what message that sends to the community. We also discuss gender diversity and parity in politics along with the recent trend of violent protest and how it may be keeping people out of politics.

Councillors have been at the front lines of furor over the way police clashed with protesters over the removal of tents and shelters from Halifax Regional Municipal property. And one of the first to share her frustration with her constituents was Patty Cuttell from District 11. She and I spoke about the actions of police on August 18th and the mixed messages between their statements and their actions towards some of the most marginalized citizens.

Prior to being named to the new Progressive Conservative cabinet, Pat Dunn was the critic of the African Nova Scotian Affairs department when they were in opposition. Some members in the community are describing his appointment as tone deaf. Reverend Doctor Rhonda Y Britton goes further than that. She also questions Tim Houston's decision to remove African Nova Scotian Késa Munroe-Anderson, as deputy minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage.

Katy Jean is not a political scientist. She's not a journalist either. But she has gained a significant social media following for her live-tweets. She started with the COVID updates and she's kept it going with other political events like this week's cabinet swearing in ceremony. And I wanted to talk with her about politics, representation and what it will take to get more young people to pay attention and running for office. In fact, she says she might be interested in running in the municipal election in 2024.

For years, Katey Day-Reick has been working at her day job to support her passion for music. Last week, she took the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to perform for Simon Cowell and the judges on America's Got Talent. This week, she's taken another step in her journey by giving up the day job to chase down her dreams. What advice does she have for following your heart? And what does she say about the upcoming show Canada's Got Talent?

Seniors vote. And they know what they want. Now that the Nova Scotia election has been decided, I spoke with Bill VanGorder of C.A.R.P. about their expectations of the Tim Houston Government. And the Chief Policy Officer of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons also discusses the federal campaign, pharmacare and the four questions their members will have for all political candidates.