The issue of affordable housing has been a hot button issue that has also been a hot potato. Municipal politicians are on the front line of complaints, even though it can be seen as a provincial responsibility. But that confusion can also happen when it comes to provincial and federal parties. Municipal governments are not partisan by nature, and this week the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) went looking for answers to some of their concerns. Andrew Tanner is a councillor in Bridgewater and is the Towns Caucus Representative on the NSFM.

Earlier this week, we looked at the proposed vaccination passport through the lens of a bioethisist. Today, we have a chance to discuss the issue as it applies to privacy. And not only is the Nova Scotia Liberal party discussing one for our province, the Federal Liberals are talking about one for international travel. For his thoughts, I spoke with McInnes Cooper lawyer David Fraser, known as an expert in privacy law.

With less than a week to go until Nova Scotia elects a new government, the race has gotten a lot closer. Polling company Narrative Research has released its Atlantic Quarterly results on voters intentions and satisfaction with government performance. And after four consecutive quarters of strong numbers, the Liberal support appears to have slipped. Margaret Brigley is the CAO of Narrative Research and she explains the numbers and why she thinks we are heading towards a minority government.

The majority of people who are fully immunized are likely to tell you their vaccination status. But for those who can't or won't take the shot, it's a different story. The promise to look into a Vaccine Passport by Liberal leader Iain Rankin has moved the topic from public health into the political world. And for Bioethisist and Dalhousie Professor Francoise Baylis, there are compelling reasons to have tough conversations before moving ahead with this plan.

Health care always ranks as one of the most important issues at the ballot box. And with the election next week, the Nova Scotia Health Coalition is trying to help voters understand where the parties stand on the issue. The not-for-profit agency says instead of sending out a questionnaire and writing a report, they've come up with something different this time. Provincial Coordinator Chris Parsons discusses the voter's tool kit resource, and shares his thoughts on vaccine passports.

When the election is over, the new government will have only a few weeks to put a back to school plan in place. And while Ontario has addressed issues like masking and class sizes, Nova Scotians are still wondering what will happen. Paul Wozney is the President of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and says there are many unanswered questions and challenges for which ever party forms government after August 17th.

A group of environmentalists lost in their application to the Nova Scotia Supreme Court to have a judicial review of a decision to delist Owls Head as a provincial park. They also wanted to challenge the government's decision to offer the 285 hectares of land to be developed into a golf course along the Eastern Shore. In her ruling, the Justice said “[I]f a remedy is sought by the public, the proper recourse in our constitutional democracy is not through the courts, but at the ballot box.” Jamie Simpson is with Juniper Law and he represented the parties that made the application for the review.

Emancipation Day is being recognized officially for the first time this year by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. It commemorates the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that became law across the British Empire, including Canada on August 1st, 1834. That's the time when the practice of slavery officially ended for millions of African people and their descendants in Canada and around the world. Earlier this year I had the honour of speaking to this important step with two women with a great deal of knowledge on the subject. Independent Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard and Dr. Afua Cooper with Dalhousie University.

There were no knockout punches or major gaffes during the first televised leader's debate. And that likely will mean there won't be a huge change in anyone's voting intentions with three weeks left in the Nova Scotia election campaign. For analysis and insight, I sat down with Dalhousie Political Scientist Dr. Lori Turnbull to discuss the performance of Iain Rankin, Tim Houston and Gary Burrill and the possibility of a minority government being elected.

There are fewer than three weeks to go until election day in Nova Scotia. And with the leader's set to debate the issues, there are groups taking the time to evaluate the platforms and the policies of the parties. Alec Stratford is the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW). That group regulates the profession of social work in the province. He joins me to discuss mental health services and how the parties stack up.