There have already been more than 2-thousand online surveys filled out by people who want to discuss defunding the police in HRM. And there's still an opportunity to have your say up until June 30th. El Jones is the Chair of the subcommittee to define defunding the police for the Halifax Board of Police Commissioners. We discuss the current climate for having these conversations and the need for a variety of voices during this discussion.

An apparent stumble from Premier Iain Rankin turned out to be less of a political hit because of the actions of a (now) former Progressive Conservative MLA. From the border restrictions to the highway blockade and the ouster of Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, it was quite a week in politics. And I had the chance to sit down and dissect it with Chronicle Herald political reporter Francis (Frank) Campbell.

A virtual forum on Thursday evening is the latest episode in a series called Speak Truth to Power at Dalhousie University. The organizers pulled this discussion together after the announcement of the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found at a former Residential School in Kamloops. The discussion is called "They Found Us and We Are Coming Home: The Truth about Residential Schools". It is even more heartbreaking given the revelation out of Saskatchewan of another 751 unmarked graves at another former Indian Residential School. Patti Doyle-Bedwell is an Associate Professor at Dalhousie University and she is one of the guest panellists.

There's been frustration and confusion over border restrictions in the Atlantic bubble. And for one PEI politician, it's past time for the four premiers to coordinate. As Gord McNeilly says, we've all been following the rules and now we should have rules that are easy to follow.

The power was out for a while Tuesday morning in Dartmouth. And the reliability of the grid has brought consistent complaints over the last few years. So has the promise by political parties to do something about high rates and the lack of competition. Claudia Chender is the NDP Energy spokesperson as well as the MLA for Dartmouth South. Here's what she has to say about the politics of power.

On National Indigenous People's day, a ceremony was held in the South End of Halifax to rededicate Peace and Friendship Park. It was a recommendation to honour Mi'kmaq heritage on a spot that had been named for the British founder of Halifax. Lawyer and Mi'kmaq language specialist Jarvis Googoo, says treaty education is important. And he shares his thoughts on cancelling Canada day as we work towards reconciliation.

Ken Gordon died in an accident on the side of Highway 103 in March of 2017. In the months following his passing, his then 10-year old son had asked what they were going to do with his clothes. That's when Matthew and his mother Lorna started a campaign to help others in need. And that has turned into clothes for people fighting addictions through Salvation Army and a bi-weekly support group in Tantallon.

Darren Hudson is a world-champion log roller and a professional lumberjack. Recently he found three abandoned baby crows while he was working in Shelburne County. He's now rehabilitating them and he's found they are keen to learn how to log roll with him at his property in Barrington.

A recent opinion poll by Narrative Research has the Iain Rankin and the Liberals ahead by a significant amount. Whether or not this turns into a majority government for the new premier is another discussion. And that is what I had with Dr. Lori Turnbull a political scientist with Dalhousie University and with Dr. Tom Urbaniak, Professor of Political Science at Cape Breton University.

Year end numbers back up the narrative that Nova Scotians were consuming more alcohol and cannabis during the pandemic. Beverly Ware is a spokesperson with the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation. She discusses the impact on local producers with the growth of the craft beer, wine, spirits and cannabis industries in the province. She also talks about the messaging behind the responsible consumption program called Cheers to Good Choices.