Another huge crowd gathered at a rally in Halifax on Friday afternoon.
It was in response to the spring budget that was tabled one month ago with $300 million worth of cuts to sectors such as arts and culture, tourism and disabilities.
There was singing, chanting and a slew of speakers including writer and activist Angela Bowden who said we need to stick together.
“We have so much work to do and we will do it together because the people united will never be divided,” said Bowden as the crowd started to chant with her.
Writer and activist Angela Bowden speaks to a crowd in Halifax. PHOTO: NATALIE CHAISSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING
The spring budget was tabled February 23.
Chris O’Neil with the Nova Scotia Arts Coalition said although they had wind of what was being cut a few days before, when the budget got tabled, it was really shocking.
“It literally took all of us about a week to really go through everything and figure out all of the impacts,” said O’Neil.
She said she met with Finance Minister John Lohr a few days later on the matter.
“We said, ‘John, what were you thinking? And he couldn’t really give us an answer. Which is what we’ve seen over and over again with all of the MLA’s,'” explained O’Neil.
In response to the budget, multiple rallies were held all over the province that involved thousands of Nova Scotians. Premier Tim Houston then walked back some of the cuts.
Rally for arts and culture in Halifax before the budget passed. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /ACADIA BROADCASTING
However, O’Neil said there are still issues that affect the Mi’kmaw and African Nova Scotian communities.
“It’s an unprecedented number of people who have actually spoken. Not just people who actually live and work this stuff all the time, but ordinary Nova Scotians who come from all walks of life,” added O’Neil.
Singing in the House
The Appropriations Act of the budget passed, Wednesday, but not without a delay first.
It was Tuesday evening when MLA’s were finishing the debate when the public observing, broke out into song to urge the government to change its mind. This caused legislature to be delayed until the next day and banned the public from the House.
O’Neil said this created a bizarre narrative.
“I mean literally people were singing, ‘it’s okay to change your mind’, and part of the reason they did that is because the politicians are not meeting with us,” says O’Neil. “At a certain point, we exhaust our options.”
She says there is a big difference between safety and comfort, and she feels the singing just made them uncomfortable.
“[It] was not threatening at all. It was super joyful.”
O’Neil said they are tired though.
“We are exhausted. We have been fighting this using every tool we can possibly find,” explains O’Neil. “There’s such a profound lack of interest in the government right now to hear our voices. So, our voices have to get a little louder. And we’re going to just keep going.”
