In just a few days, Nova Scotia's 30th Premier will be sworn in to office. And before he transitions to his new role as Leader of the Official Opposition, I had a conversation with Iain Rankin. He took some time to discuss his thoughts on his time as premier, the campaign, the media and what kind of job he's planning on doing when he takes his seat on the opposite side of the House.

Universities and Colleges across Atlantic Canada are setting their own policies around COVID vaccinations and being on campus. While that may take into account the different cultures and student populations, some are asking if there should be a unified set of rules. For their perspectives, I spoke with Lydia Houck, Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia and Peter Halpin, Executive Director of the Association of Atlantic Universities.

Students and staff are about to head back to class and the province is suggesting Phase 5 of reopening is just around the corner. What does Infectious Disease Expert Doctor Lisa Barrett think of the plans for reopening and returning to normal? And why does she still have her Christmas Tree up?

Many of us first learned of Halifax Mutual Aid (HMA) last winter when they built and placed temporary shelters for the homeless on Municipal Property. They were also vocal about how they felt all levels of government, including Halifax Regional Municipality, failed to act to help people in a desparate situation. Last Wednesday, August 18th, a confrontation happened between supporters of the people living in tents and shelters and Halifax Regional Police. I sat down with a HMA spokesperson to find out more about the group and their role in the Spring Garden Road protest.

Many businesses owners were struggling with the challenges of pandemic life since March of 2020. And with the success of vaccinations and the return to in-person dining, there are new challenges. It shouldn't be a surprise that some people have left the food service industry for good. For his perspective, I spoke with Luc Erjavec, Vice President of Restaurants Canada. We touch on wages, working conditions and the discussion of a vaccine passport for diners and staff.

Halifax Police say they were simply enforcing the bylaw that makes it illegal to camp on municipal property. The Mayor and members of council say alternative housing was offered before tents were taken down and temporary shelters dismantled or removed. But hotels are not a permanent or even an appropriate suggestion according to Ashley Avery. She is the Executive Director of Coverdale Courtwork Society in Halifax. She tells us how she knows this and offers her advice to Police, Municipal Politicians and Premier Designate Tim Houston. This conversation took place on Thursday, August 19th, 2021.

For several hours on Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of protesters and Halifax Regional Police officers faced off in a downtown street. Citizens were rallying in support of people who are living in tents and other temporary shelters on park properties. Halifax Regional Municipality started evicting people and removing their tents early in the morning. By late afternoon people were being arrested and taken to jail as the situation escalated. SaltWire Journalist Nicole Munro was there to report on the situation. And she and I sat down to discuss the mixed messages and the way this was handled.

The Progressive Conservatives were able to win enough seats to form a majority government with Tim Houston as Premier-Designate. And now the tough job lays ahead for the PC's and their plans. What does the future hold for NDP Leader Gary Burrill? And what will the history books say about Iain Rankin and his Liberal party's performance in this past election? Dalhousie University Political Scientist Dr. Lori Turnbull gives us her thoughts and insights on the 41st General Election.

What happens if no one party has enough seats for a majority? Are there ever coalitions in Canadian assemblies? When can we expect the results and which ballots are counted first? There are laws, conventions and customs when it comes to Parliamentary Democracy here in Canada. And with a provincial election about to be decided, I sat down with Kevin Deveaux to discuss some of the issues.

Agencies, Boards and Commissions are part of the governance model in Nova Scotia. And for the group of citizens, there was a lot of work that went into the 61-page report from the Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission. Doctor Ren Thomas is an associate professor at Dalhousie's School of Planning. She was also the co-chair of the group that made 17 recommendations and offered 60 meaningful actions to government. She gave us her thoughts on the report, the election and the actions needed to help the 12 percent of Nova Scotians living under the poverty line.