There have been promises made in the current election campaign that could impact the fire service in Nova Scotia. And there are policies and promises from other campaigns that have either not happened or have not been fully implemented. For his perspective on what you should be asking the candidates, I spoke with Doctor Will Brooks. He is an amateur historian, retired psychologist and educator who is a former firefighter. He also Founder of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

According to an Angus Reid survey, 75 percent of the people who are unvaccinated don't think it's appropriate to ask people about their vaccination status. More than half of the people with one or more shots say it's perfectly fine to ask. And when it comes to vaccine passports, two thirds of the people who responded, support them for large public events. Those are the issues we take up with Dalhousie University's Wayne MacKay, Constitutional Law Expert and Professor Emeritus of the Schulich School of Law.

The Liberal Candidate being told to step aside because of online images has revived the conversation about sexuality and double standards. Meredith Ralston is a professor of women's studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She researches women in politics and has written a book called Slut-Shaming, Whorephobia, and the Unfinished Sexual Revolution.

Health care is a common election campaign topic in Nova Scotia. And the head of the Union Representing Paramedics is hoping it becomes a doorstep issue. Michael Nickerson is the Business Manager for International Union of Operating Engineers Local 727. He and I spoke about #CodeCritical, the Fitch Report and the letter writing campaign that was just launched.

Jerry Granelli was famous around the world for being part of the soundtrack for the Charlie Brown Christmas special as a member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. The jazz drummer was also a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and had performed with performers like Sly Stone and The Grateful Dead. He had been living and performing in Halifax since the late 1980's. He passed away this week at the age of 80. Award winning Cape Breton-based musician Keith Mullins shares his thoughts and memories of the man who was a teacher and mentor to many Nova Scotian musicians.

There's no question that seniors are among the most engaged citizens politically. And Bill VanGorder has been actively involved in making sure their voices are being heard. He is the Past Chair and Senior spokesperson with the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP NS). He tells us about the results of a snap survey they did with their members just as the Liberal leader was calling the election on the weekend.

It's going to be a four week election campaign in a State of Emergency and during our pandemic recovery. No one was surprised by the election call for the 31 day campaign that will have us voting on August 17th. Cape Breton University Political Scientist Tom Urbaniak discusses Tuesday elections, voter turnout and the challenges of getting people's attention in the middle of the summer.

Now that enough of us have been vaccinated for the province to ease some of the pandemic restrictions, some tough conversations need to happen. If you've had your shots, you're probably willing to tell others. While not everyone is able to take the vaccine, others are refusing them. The question that looms is whether vaccine passports are ethical and appropriate on a global scale. Dr. Robert Huish is an associate professor in the Department of International Development Studies Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dalhousie University.

We've heard from the politicians about the promises they are making as they spend our dollars. It's important to hear from others who know about the impact it will have on families and children. The Early Learning and Child Care announcement this week happened at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax. That facility is home to the Child Study Centre. It's also where Dr. Christine McLean is an associate professor and an expert in the field of early childhood education specifically in the areas of play-based learning.

Sean McMullen is a photographer and a diver who has uncovered a lot of old bottles and other things in the waters of Nova Scotia. He documents his finds on his YouTube Channel, Saltwater Sean. Last weekend while snorkelling under the overpass in Fall River between Lake Fletcher and Lake Thomas. he was shocked by what he spotted on the murky bottom. He discusses his find and how the RCMP reacted when he called to report he'd located an old, rusty sawed-off shotgun.