Latest news with #DevinDrover
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Canadian Taxpayers Federation launches petition to scrap Halifax bike lane project
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is calling on Halifax Regional Council to scrap its current bike lane project. The CTF said in a news release the project is 'over budget' and 'behind schedule.' 'Halifax city hall has turned this bike lane project into a bottomless money pit,' said Devin Drover, the Atlantic director of the CTF. 'It's time to slam the brakes on this bike lane boondoggle.' Halifax council agreed in 2017 to have the 53-kilometre bike lane network completed by 2022 at a cost of $25 million. 'Seven years later, only about 60 per cent of it is built, and the cost has ballooned to $93 million,' the federation said. Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore tried to put the project on hold last month due to concerns over traffic congestion, but council voted the motion down. 'Council needs to stand up for all taxpayers,' said Drover. 'Residents are paying more in property taxes year after year, but they're getting delays, excuses and broken promises in return.' The taxpayers federation said the average homeowner in Halifax is now paying $302 more than they were two years ago due to a 6.3 per cent tax hike that happened last year. 'People are struggling to afford groceries so city hall can't afford to waste another dime on this failed vanity project,' said Drover. 'It's time for city council to listen to taxpayers and scrap this failed bike lane project for good.' The CTF has launched a petition calling on the municipality to cancel the bike lane expansion project. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Mission Impossible:' Maritime students struggle to find summer jobs
Its the end of the school year and thousands of students have hit the pavement looking for work. But finding and securing a summer job is proving harder and harder for students across the country. 'In the summertime it can be quite competitive. Due to my age, its hard to find opportunities out there to get a paying job,' says Grade 9 student, Olivia Hernandez-Jennex. 'I've probably sent out around 10 resumes around my area.' The federal government announced an expansion of the Canada Summer Jobs program, which offers wage subsidies to businesses hiring young people for seasonal work. That comes with a $25-million price tag, which Devin Drover, the Atlantic director for the Canadian Taxpayers Association, says is a concern for them. 'This [comes] at a time where the Government of Canada is spending tens of billions of dollars just on servicing government debt. So, we're always cautious to see more expenditure at a time when the government, every year is adding on a lot of borrowing,' says Drover. There's no denying the demand is being felt here at home. Stephanie Schnare, the marketing manager for the Halifax Shopping Centre, says a recent job fair held at the mall drew a large crowd. 'We definitely saw between 100 [and] 150 people come out for the job fair which is significant,' says Schnare. 'We saw anywhere from high school students to certainly university and younger grads.' But even with help, some students say it continues to be a struggle. Whether it's having a lack of experience or finding a job that allows them to juggle other responsibilities. 'As a nursing student where we have a super busy schedule during the summer, and we have clinical hours. So that can make it difficult to work because we're already doing full time clinical hours as well,' says Dalhousie University nursing student, Samantha Layden. As the national unemployment rate skyrockets, job seekers of all ages are at a standstill. 'My little brother [is] trying to find just summer employment… I have family members trying to find full-time employment that have recently been laid off and it just seems like mission impossible for anyone to find a job right now,' says another Dalhousie University student, Karah Fleet. But Drover believes the federal government is better suited helping businesses, as way to combat the issue. 'Its clear that businesses are struggling…whether it's through prices going up due to inflation or things like the threat of tariffs, it means there's less opportunity to hire and to grow their business. So I think, one of the things the federal government could do right now is look at lowering some of the corporate tax rates,' says Drover.
