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Check out this great new tourism commercial for Nova Scotia

Tobias Negele / Unsplash

The Province has released a new commercial to promote Nova Scotia.

It starts with a couple in a bar debating with a guy about how much coastline Nova Scotia has. They then embark on a trek around the Province with key locations highlighted.

The song is from Matt Mays and was the perfect choice!

Notice the attention to detail at the end when they go back to the bar. Well done!

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WATCH: Couple Walks All 13,000 KM Of Nova Scotia’s Coastline In New Tourism Marketing Campaign

Nova Scotia launched a new tourism marketing campaign today, March 6 that encourages people to spend their vacations and tourist money in our province.

The campaign called, Your Ocean Playground, is designed to help build on the tourism industry’s recovery which began in 2022. The campaign runs through the end of the summer in Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts. The province is also advertising in Germany, the United Kingdom and here at home.

Canadians, Americans and Europeans will see the campaign on television, billboards, social media and beyond. The ads highlight the best things to do and see in all areas of Nova Scotia.

WATCH: Nova Scotia – Your Ocean Playground

The ad series focuses on a couple travelling all 13,000 kilometers of our coastline.

“We saw visitors coming back in large numbers last year and we’re already seeing strong bookings for 2023.” said Dennis Campbell, CEO, Ambassatours Gray Line. “Provincial marketing helps create interest in Nova Scotia and once visitors get here, we have the opportunity to show them the time of their life to keep them coming back.”

The province welcomed 1.9 million visitors during 2022 and this year the government is spending a total of $8.6 million to market Nova Scotia tourism.

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Nova Scotia launches new tourism campaign

By CityNews Halifax Staff

Posted Mar 6, 2023 07:44:00 PM.

The province has launched a new marketing campaign to encourage people to spend their vacations in Nova Scotia to help build on the tourism industry's strong recovery.       The campaign is called “Your Ocean Playground” and will run through the end of summer in Ontario, Quebec, Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts.

“Last year, we saw visitors return in a significant way, with accommodation sales even surpassing 2019 numbers,” said Pat Dunn, Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage. “We want to build on that momentum and help our tourism industry thrive.”       The Houston Government says it's also advertising overseas in Germany and the United Kingdom and running year-round ads in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada.       The government will invest an additional $2.7 million this year in campaigns to support earlier and extended marketing of the province for a total of about $8.6 million in 2023.

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Nova Scotia TV Spot, 'The Bet'

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Check out Nova Scotia's 60 second TV commercial, 'The Bet' from the Cities & Destinations industry. Keep an eye on this page to learn about the songs, characters, and celebrities appearing in this TV commercial. Share it with friends, then discover more great TV commercials on iSpot.tv

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Nomadic Matt's Travel Site

Travel Better, Cheaper, Longer

Nova Scotia Travel Guide

Last Updated: November 10, 2023

That welcoming atmosphere — combined with over 100 beaches, picturesque lighthouses, fresh seafood, and endless rugged coastline — makes visiting Nova Scotia an exciting (and underrated) destination in Eastern Canada.

Outside the capital city of Halifax, Nova Scotia is dotted with tiny fishing villages and coastal towns. Drive further north, and you’ll hit scenic Cape Breton Island which comes alive with vivid fall foliage each year along its Cabot Trail. In short, Nova Scotia is a province perfect for road trips.

Another bonus: Nova Scotia doesn’t see nearly as many tourists as the country’s larger cities, making it a somewhat off-the-beaten-trail destination that’s much more affordable than many of the more popular cities in Canada.

This travel guide to Nova Scotia can help you plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your visit to this beautiful east coast province!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Nova Scotia

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Nova Scotia

1. Hike the Skyline Trail

The Skyline Trail is easily the most popular hike in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It stretches 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) through thick forest and then along the coast to reach a viewing platform overlooking the ocean. It’s a breathtaking walk on which you might even encounter moose. The hike is suitable for all levels and takes between 1.5-3 hours. Make sure to bring your own water, good shoes, and clothing layers as the weather can change quickly. The most popular time to visit is July, August, and September but many people come to see the autumn leaves change in October. Park admission is 8.50 CAD.

2. Tour the Alexander Keith’s Brewery

Alexander Keith is a legend in Nova Scotia. He opened his brewery in 1820, became mayor of Halifax, and was so wildly popular that Halifax throws a massive birthday party for him on the waterfront every October. Today, the 200-year-old brewery is one of the oldest in North America. Take a tour of the Halifax brewery to learn more and sample some of the limited edition beers at “Stag’s Head” pub at the end of the tour. Tours are 29.95 CAD.

3. Hang out in Halifax

Halifax is Nova Scotia’s cool capital city. It’s home to half a dozen universities so it has a lively nightlife, a thriving music scene, and countless trendy restaurants and craft breweries. Stroll the waterfront boardwalk, grab a lobster roll, and spend the evening at a local pub. Take the ferry over to Dartmouth across the harbor, known as ‘Halifax’s Brooklyn’ and check out the live music at New Scotland Brewing Company. The city has a youthful, arty vibe and is worth visiting for a couple of days.

4. Visit Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse

There are some 170 lighthouses in Nova Scotia, but Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is the most famous. Once you see it, you’ll understand why it’s one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. It’s a quintessential red-topped lighthouse standing on a rocky shore overlooking the Atlantic. Walk around and enjoy the ocean views and snap some photos. Beware: rogue waves are common, even on calm days. It’s possible to reach the lighthouse via bus and taxi but it is much easier by car.

5. Drive the Cabot Trail

Other things to see and do in nova scotia, 1. go tidal bore rafting in shubenacadie.

The Shubenacadie River’s rapids in the Bay of Fundy are powered by the highest tides in the world. One minute you’re floating down a peaceful river keeping an eye out for bald eagles and other wildlife and the next minute the river turns into a raging, foaming mass of rapids. When the tide changes twice a day, the tidal bore temporarily reverses the flow of the river, resulting in this wild river ride. A four-hour tour includes the guided rafting excursion, safety flotation gear, extra mud sliding on request (yes!), and post-rafting showers for when you need to clean up. Make sure to bring an extra clean change of clothes as well as a towel. A four-hour rafting trip starts at 95 CAD.

2. Go whale watching

In the summer and fall, 12 species of whales visit the waters around Nova Scotia, including pilot whales, minke whales, giant humpbacks, and the endangered North Atlantic right whale. There are tons of whale-watching tours to choose from in the area, with most operating outside of Halifax. Mariner Cruises takes you out for a 2.5-hour boating tour for 50 CAD departing from Westport on Brier Island, while larger groups like Lunenburg Whale Watching Tours start at 70 CAD.

3. Enjoy summer on the water

Summer is short in Nova Scotia, so when the weather is nice and the sun comes out, Nova Scotians hit the water to go sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. Surfing is also big here, with Lawrencetown Beach being one of the more popular areas to find the biggest waves. Go swimming at Melmerby Beach or take a kayak around Kejimkujik National Park. Kayak rentals cost around 25 CAD for two hours or 32 CAD for the entire day.

4. Wander the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens

Spanning 17 acres of greenery, these historical gardens overlook a tidal river valley and include an enormous rose collection (best seen in July) as well as an 18th-century Governor’s Garden and a 19th-century Victorian Garden. You can check out the reconstructed 1671 Acadian House or grab a coffee and light lunch at The Elm Tree Café (seasonal). It’s 16 CAD to visit except November to April when there is only a suggested donation of 5 CAD as the Gardens are not maintained during the winter months.

5. Visit the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site

This museum in Cape Breton is host to a rich collection of artifacts and documents chronicling the life and career of Bell, the inventor of the telephone. The collection was accumulated by his family during their time here in Baddeck, Cape Breton. In the parlor, you can see Bell’s personal effects, like his favorite jacket, notebook, and walking stick. You can also take a behind-the-scenes “White Glove Tour” of the artifact storage facilities. The site is open May-October and admission is 8.50 CAD (13 CAD for the white glove tour).

6. Explore the Highland Village Museum

Over the centuries, the Canadian Maritimes have been heavily influenced by Scottish and Irish immigration. This outdoor pioneer museum and Gaelic culture experience highlights that history. The 43-acre site overlooking Bras d’Or Lake includes historic buildings like three frame houses, a mill, and a forge. You can take part in a traditional céilidh dance, hear Gaelic singing, and even practice a little of the language yourself. It’s open from June to October and costs 11 CAD.

7. Tour the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

This museum depicts Nova Scotia’s maritime history with exhibits on boatbuilding, World War II convoys, the Titanic, and the Halifax Explosion (a huge disaster that happened in 1917, when two ships carrying ammunition ran into each other and destroyed much of the city). It’s a very comprehensive overview of the region’s history. Admission is 5.15 CAD from November-April and 9.55 CAD from May-October.

8. Visit nearby New Brunswick or Prince Edward Island

These two provinces are close to Nova Scotia and can be visited as day trips (or multi-day trips) if you have your own vehicle. Don’t miss New Brunswick’s Fundy National Park to see the world’s highest tides. In P.E.I., you can soak up some tranquility on the sea (and eat lots of seafood) and visit the Anne of Green Gables house.

9. Explore Lunenburg

Lunenburg is one of the most colorful towns you’ll ever come across. With its narrow streets and colonial 18th- and 19th-century buildings painted in bright hues of pinks, oranges, and greens, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into the past. There are still tall ships in the harbor and even an operational blacksmith hammering away on the waterfront. The harbor is home to the famous Bluenose II, a replica schooner of the original Bluenose boat that’s featured on the Canadian dime (ten-cent coin). The Bluenose was a famous fishing/racing schooner that went undefeated in her 18-year run and is an iconic part of Canadian history.

10. Tour the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

If there’s just one museum you visit in Halifax, make it this one . Pier 21 was the immigration point for one million newcomers to Canada between 1928 and 1971. You’ll learn about 400 years of Canadian immigration history through first-person stories, archival photos, artifacts (including trunks and personal treasures), and digital documentation. Exhibits are incredibly interactive and you can even research your family’s pre-1935 immigration records from all ports of entry in North America. Admission is 15.50 CAD.

11. Relax in Kejimkujik National Park

For a taste of Maritime nature, come to this national park to paddle, hike, camp, and relax. Here you’ll find ancient rock carvings (petroglyphs), canoe routes, and coastal wilderness punctuated with sandy beaches and wildlife. To learn more about the Mi’kmaq people who traditionally have called the region home, join a storytelling session, take a guided petroglyph tour, or participate in a canoe-building workshop. Admission to the park is 6.25 CAD.

For more information on other destinations in Canada, check out these guides:

• Calgary Travel Guide
• Montreal Travel Guide
• Ottawa Travel Guide
• Quebec City Travel Guide
• Toronto Travel Guide
• Vancouver Travel Guide
• Vancouver Island Travel Guide

Nova Scotia Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Hostels are virtually non-existent in Nova Scotia. The only exception is Halifax. A bed in a 4-6-person dorm costs 30-35 CAD per night. A private room costs about 78-90 CAD per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi and self-catering facilities.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is available around the province starting at 27 CAD per night. This gets you a basic plot without electricity for two people.

Budget hotel prices – Budget hotels start around 105 CAD per night for a place outside of Halifax. Within Halifax, most budget hotels start at around 130 CAD per night. Expect basic amenities like free Wi-Fi, TV, AC, and a coffee/tea maker. Prices are lower during the off-season.

Airbnb is available all around Nova Scotia. Private rooms start around 50-75 CAD per night, though they average double (or even triple) that price. An entire home/apartment costs around 100 CAD per night, though they average closer to 160 CAD (200 CAD in Halifax). Book early to find the best deals.

Food -In Nova Scotia, seafood is king. Be sure to try scallops and oysters, wild blueberries, lobster, and donair (thinly sliced beef in a pita with a sauce that’s similar to kebab; it’s the official food of Halifax). Also, be sure to sample more general Canadian staples like poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds), beaver tails (fried dough with maple syrup), Canadian bacon, and the oddly tasty ketchup chips.

You can find cheap street food eats like donair for around 7 CAD (go to Johnny K’s), or a small pizza on Halifax’s “Pizza Corner” (an intersection at Blowers Street and Grafton Street full of pizza places) for less than 10 CAD.

A fast food combo meal (think McDonald’s) costs around 12 CAD. A lobster roll at an inexpensive restaurant is about 20 CAD, while lobster poutine is closer to 18 CAD. A bowl of pasta (such as scallop carbonara) costs around 20 CAD. A beer to go with it is about 7 CAD while a glass of wine starts at 9 CAD.

A meal at a higher-end restaurant costs about 40 CAD for a steak or duck entree without a drink, while lobster is closer to 55 CAD.

If you cook for yourself, expect to spend 50-65 CAD on groceries per week. This gets you basic staples like rice, pasta, seasonal produce, and some meat or fish.

Some recommended places to eat include No. 9 Coffee Bar (Lunenburg), The Barn Coffee & Social House (Mahone Bay), The Economy Shoe Shop (Halifax), McKelvie’s Restaurant (Halifax), and The Wooden Monkey (Halifax).

Backpacking Nova Scotia Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Nova Scotia, expect to spend about 70 CAD per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel, cooking all your meals, limiting your drinking, taking public transit to get around, and doing mostly free activities like swimming and hiking. If you plan on drinking, add another 10-15 CAD to your daily budget.

On a mid-range budget of 180 CAD per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb, eat out for a few meals, enjoy a couple of drinks, rent a car to get around, and do more paid activities like rent a kayak, visit museums, and day trips to a nearby province.

On a “luxury” budget of 280 CAD per day or more, you can stay in a hotel, rent a car, drink more, eat out for most meals, and do whatever tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in CAD.

Nova Scotia Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Nova Scotia can be an affordable destination if you budget properly. It gets more expensive during peak summer season and early fall (everyone comes to see the leaves change color). Here are some of my ways to save money in Nova Scotia during your visit:

• Stay with a local – If you plan ahead, you can usually find a Couchsurfing host in Halifax. This way, you not only have a free place to stay, but you’ll have a local host that can share their insider tips and advice.
• Take a free walking tour – Walking tours are a great way to get familiar with a city and its culture. Halifax Free Walking Tours offers daily informative walking tours in the summer. In the off-season, tours are available by request. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Look for free events – Many of Nova Scotia’s events and festivals are free, including Halifax’s Busker Festival in July. Many towns (like Pictou) also have free summer concerts in public spaces. Check the Tourism Nova Scotia website for more info!
• Go camping – If you want to camp, use novascotia.goingtocamp.com to find available campsites around the province. A two-person site costs around 27-35 CAD.
• Look for the happy hours – The Ultimate Happy Hours website lists all the happy hour drink and food specials around Halifax. They update with new info frequently!
• Get the Museum Pass – If you plan on visiting lots of museums, the Nova Scotia Museum Pass lets you pay one price to access any of the province’s museum sites. It’s valid for 12 months and costs 47 CAD.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water here is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money. LifeStraw makes a reusable bottle with a built-in filter to ensure your water is always safe and clean.

Where to Stay in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia doesn’t have many hostels and most of the existing ones are in Halifax. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• HI Halifax Heritage House Hostel
• Halifax Backpacker
• Bear on the Lake Guesthouse

How to Get Around Nova Scotia

Public transportation – Halifax is the only major urban center in Nova Scotia and locals depend on a public bus system to get around. Halifax’s public buses can take you all around the inner city and into the suburbs, but the downtown area is very walkable. Fares are 2.75 CAD.

You can take the MetroX bus from the airport to downtown St. John’s for 4.25 CAD (exact change required). There’s also a ferry connecting downtown Halifax to Dartmouth for 2.75 CAD.

Bus – Taking the bus is the best way to get around Nova Scotia if you don’t have a car. Maritime Bus connects most towns in the province. A two-hour trip from Halifax to Lunenburg is 26 CAD, while Halifax to Mahone Bay takes an hour and costs 20.25 CAD. Halifax to Sydney (Cape Breton) costs 72 CAD and takes 6 hours.

To find bus routes and prices, use BusBud .

Taxi – Taxis are not cheap here. Their base rate is 3.75 CAD, and it’s an additional 1.70 CAD per kilometer afterward. Prices add up fast so I’d avoid them if you can.

Ridesharing – Uber is available in Halifax, but the city is easily walkable so I’d skip the ridesharing if you can.

Car Rental – Car rentals can be found for as little as 30 CAD per day for a multi-day rental. If you want to take advantage of all that Nova Scotia has to offer, this is your best option. For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is at its busiest in the summer, with the best weather occurring between June and August. Temperatures often exceed 25°C (78°F). Keep in mind that accommodation prices are higher during this time, but tourist attractions are never overly crowded compared to elsewhere in Canada.

Both early fall and late spring are also excellent times to visit. The weather is warm, you can do all the outdoor exploration you want, and the tourist season isn’t in full swing. This is the best time to drive Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. The fall colors are particularly pretty.

Winters in Nova Scotia are cold and wet, with temperatures ranging between from -17-0°C (0-32°F) from December to March. If you come during this time, be prepared for all weather types and dress in layers because it is cold. Keep in mind that many businesses shut down for the winter (mostly outside of Halifax). In short, I’d avoid a winter visit unless you’re here for winter sports and activities.

How to Stay Safe in Nova Scotia

You don’t have to worry much about crime in Nova Scotia — it’s incredibly safe to visit. Your greatest risk is petty crime like pickpocketing, but even that is super rare. Overall, I really wouldn’t worry about crime here. Getting hurt hiking is more likely to happen than any crime!

Like much of rural Canada, Nova Scotia has ticks that carry Lyme Disease. If you’re hiking, try to wear long sleeves or pants, or stick to well-trodden trails. Check yourself for ticks after spending time in nature.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here. However, the standard precautions you take anywhere apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). For more information, check out one of the many solo female travel blogs in the city.

If you’re visiting in the winter, make sure you keep an eye on the weather — especially if you’re driving a car. Road conditions can change rapidly.

Hurricanes can occasionally make it up to the Maritimes, so keep an eye on them if you’re visiting during hurricane season (June-November).

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

When in doubt, always trust your instincts. If a taxi driver seems shady, get out. If your hotel or accommodation is seedier than you thought, go somewhere else. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID, in case of an emergency.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.

Nova Scotia Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Nova Scotia Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Canada and continue planning your trip:

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Where to Stay in Vancouver: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Where to Stay in Toronto: The Best Neighborhoods for Your Visit

Canada Road Trip: A One Month Suggested Itinerary

How to Road Trip the Yukon on a Budget

How to See Alberta: A 10-Day Suggested Driving Itinerary

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The questions haven't changed — but answers are harder to get

'holding politicians to account ... is an essential part of democracy,' says professor.

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In 1994, if a reporter had questions for then premier John Savage, they walked across Granville Street from Province House in downtown Halifax, entered One Government Place, rode the elevator to the seventh floor and asked the receptionist if Savage had a few minutes to spare.

More often than not, the premier would come out, answer questions and then both he and the reporter would carry on with their day.

That's also the way longtime journalism professor Stephen Kimber remembers his time covering the House as a young reporter in the early 1970s.

"If I wanted to talk to Garnie Brown, who was the minister of tourism, I would pick up the phone and I would call," Kimber recalled.

"He talked to anybody who called him and it was always off-the-cuff."

'An essential part of democracy'

It is simple, basic journalism but vitally important work on behalf of Nova Scotians, according to Kimber. He said that work has also become increasingly difficult to do.

Over the decades, the number of people developing and disseminating the government's message has grown and that's changed the access reporters have to officials. Meanwhile, fewer journalists are covering Nova Scotia politics.

"It is important. It's not sexy. It's not fun in many ways. But this holding politicians to account on behalf of the public is an essential part of democracy," said Kimber.

Essential, he said, but not as easy as it was decades ago.

Back in the 1990s, the provincial government also published a list of phone numbers for senior government officials that it freely shared with news organizations. If a reporter needed someone to explain a government policy or decision, they simply called the person handling that particular file.

Times have changed.

Kimber, who was recently awarded the province's highest recognition, the Order of Nova Scotia, for his "contributions to the life and people of the Province through literature, journalism and academia," said it's now rare to get an answer directly from a minister. 

"What you get is a canned statement that almost certainly was prepared by people who are more anxious to shade and nuance to prevent anybody from knowing anything."

Kimber has also noticed a pattern. New governments promise to open up the process. Then they get into office.

"Immediately ... they recognize that that's not in their best interests," said Kimber. "Then they not only go along with what the previous government has done, they upped the ante a little further and make it that much harder to get information out of them."

This happened when the McNeil government vowed to overhaul the freedom of information system , as did Tim Houston before he was premier . 

Another change is that bureaucrats are now instructed not to deal with reporters directly. They are trained instead to send them to the appropriate media relations officer at the government's communications agency — Communications Nova Scotia.

Deputy ministers and senior officials still routinely make themselves available to reporters after they testify before a legislature committee, but that's the exception to the rule.

The availability of cabinet ministers has also changed.

During legislative sittings, reporters would simply stop ministers on their way in or out of the chamber for interviews. Stanchions then went up to keep reporters back from the entrance and now those exchanges are largely handled through communications staff, who schedule interviews at a fixed location in the hallway between the chamber and the ceremonial Red Room.

Reporting on politics has changed over 30 years. Here's why that affects you

Those conversations are closely monitored by government and caucus staff, who routinely outnumber reporters during sittings.

Access is even more restricted for the eight or more months the House isn't sitting. Cabinet meetings, when they happened weekly, gave reporters predictable access, but those meetings now happen biweekly or less.

It's a "bad situation" that is worsening, said Kimber. "Not only because of the way politicians operate, but because of the lack of journalism."

The media landscape in Nova Scotia has changed dramatically since the 1990s and those dwindling resources have had an impact on political coverage. The now-defunct Daily News used to have two political reporters. Some private radio stations like News 95.7 had someone covering the legislature. 

Now instead of more than a dozen reporters covering Province House, there's a handful. Networks like CTV or Global no longer cover the legislature every day.

As a result, the number and variety of stories generated by political reporters has diminished.

Back in 1994, the Nova Scotia Information Service had a staff of 24 and was spending $1.2 million on government communications.

This year, Communications Nova Scotia has a staff of 87, with a budget of $7 million. The increase in staff and size of its budget reflects the changing role of the agency and the increasing demands placed on it by the government.

CNS staff not only respond to media requests, they draft and issue news releases, plan and host news conferences, create promotional content and marketing material, and stage an increasing number of live social media events.

Unlike decades ago, the provincial government is no longer relying primarily on news outlets and newspaper ads to disseminate information or sell its agenda.

Direct mail-outs, social media posts, video messages, and live online events have become routine, and not just for the party in power.

The opposition parties also now record, edit and post video messages and snippets of media interviews for partisan purposes.

"It's not about providing information, it's about controlling it and ... getting it out there on their own terms," said Kimber.

Tighter control, time limits

Because a poorly worded response to a question is now fodder for opposition attacks, scrums have become more tightly controlled and subject to time limits.

Although most of the changes have come gradually, Darrell Dexter's NDP government was the first to exert notable control over Communications Nova Scotia, expanding its workload to include marketing campaigns and defending government initiatives.

Barbara Emodi handled communications for the NDP caucus during those years and had regular contact with her counterparts in the premier's office.

Emodi said the good rapport the government initially had with journalists soured over time.

"Public relations people and spin doctors ruined that, because you stopped having conversations and started delivering messages and then that created suspicion," said Emodi. "And that's a bit of a spiral."

According to Emodi, "people got a little paranoid" in the premier's office and that led to a desire to control information, and the message, more tightly.

Kimber said all this control by governments makes it harder for members of the public to know what the party in power is really up to.

"If you don't have that, then it's very easy for governments, for individual politicians, to make decisions to do things that have consequences for all of us as individuals, with no accountability," he said.

All this leads to a scenario where it would be rare for a reporter to show up unannounced to speak to the premier, and get past the security desk six floors down from his office — no matter which party is in power.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jean Laroche has been a CBC reporter since 1987. He's been covering Nova Scotia politics since 1995 and has been at Province House longer than any sitting member.

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Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson Lead ‘D.C.-Palooza’

In Washington, celebrities mixed with journalists and government officials at glittery parties before the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

By Callie Holtermann

Reporting from Washington, D.C.

The early arrivals at a party thrown by the Hollywood powerhouse Creative Artists Agency on Friday night seemed to be weighing the same question: Just how much could they expect to let loose during this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner weekend?

Their game of chicken did not go on long. By 8 p.m., guests at the talent agency’s event, held at La Grande Boucherie in Washington, were applying temporary tattoos to one another’s necks and trying to prevent their drinks from sloshing onto a baby grand piano.

The weekend’s main event, known as “nerd prom,” is a Saturday night banquet at the Washington Hilton Hotel. There, Colin Jost of “Saturday Night Live” plans to gently roast President Biden, who is expected to take the dais and attempt some zingers of his own.

In addition to the annual dinner, the intertwined media and political classes celebrate themselves at a succession of receptions and parties that have made April a bustling month for the D.C. social set.

Despite wars, campus unrest and the criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump, plenty of journalists and power brokers appeared determined to make the most of this year’s schmoozefest.

“It’s really exciting to be able to just put politics aside, for one beautiful weekend,” said Desi Lydic, a senior correspondent for “The Daily Show.” “As well as our ethics.”

The CAA party was held in honor of Mr. Jost, who made the rounds with his wife, Scarlett Johansson. Mr. Jost’s boss, the “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels , marched straight to the food table upon his arrival. When he was asked what looked good, he replied, “The vegetables.”

Other guests included the second gentleman Doug Emhoff, the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and the newscaster Andrea Mitchell. Hollywood was represented by the actors Rosario Dawson, Chris Pine and Kyle MacLachlan, whose political résumé includes his role as a fictional mayor in “Portlandia.” The CAA contingent was led by the company’s chief executive, Bryan Lourd, and the agents Rachel Adler and Joe Machota.

Located in a former bank on 14th Street, La Grand Boucherie is a stately two-story restaurant trimmed with stained glass and a gilded ceiling. Unlike those married couples who split up at parties to work the room separately, Mr. Jost and Ms. Johansson, both CAA clients, went around in tandem. At one point, as they maneuvered around a demiclad statue, Mr. Jost did his best to fend off questions about his role as the host of this year’s dinner.

“I’m too nervous right now,” he said.

Upstairs, Naomi Biden , the eldest of the president’s grandchildren, said that no celebrity sighting would excite her as much as her run-in with Ariana Madix of “Vanderpump Rules” during last April’s festivities. “I was like, ‘I feel like I’m the only one who appreciates that you’re here,’” Ms. Biden recalled.

But only so many cheese boards could stave off conversations about the media industry’s challenges: layoffs in newsrooms, the threat of artificial intelligence and the jailing of the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia more than a year ago.

“The underlying tone of this weekend is, What do we do about Evan Gershkovich?” said Sara Fischer, the senior media reporter at Axios. “Behind every glass of champagne is an editor talking about him right now.”

The social agenda had begun on Thursday evening, when Politico hosted a kickoff reception at the British ambassador’s residence on Embassy Row.

The 17,000-square-foot manse, designed in the 1920s by the architect Sir Edward Lutyens , is an ever so slightly scaled down version of an English country estate. A sign bearing the royal coat of arms shooed certain guests away from a room full of chairs upholstered in white fabric: “No red wine in our drawing room please.”

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland held court in the garden, where fragrant peonies were in springtime bloom. Nearby, standing close to a tower of whoopie pies , Goli Sheikholeslami , the chief executive of Politico, was deep in conversation with David Risher, the chief executive of Lyft.

It is rare these days for a marquee fete to go without a sponsorship or some sort of brand presence, and the party at the embassy was no exception. An amiable server, cigar clipper in hand, offered an assortment of Diamond Crown Cigars. One guest was observed having a contemplative smoke on a bench in the garden.

“This weekend has become the highlight of the Washington social calendar,” Ms. Sheikholeslami told the crowd. “What started out as the ‘nerd prom’ has become somewhat of D.C.-palooza.”

But even amid the merriment and peacocking, outside events could not help but crash the party. Dame Karen Pierce, Britain’s ambassador to the United States, who hosted the event with Ms. Sheikholeslami, said she had attended a memorial that morning for seven aid workers killed in Gaza while delivering food for World Central Kitchen.

“A very difficult time in the world,” she said.

Some of the most coveted invitations came from the new class of digital news start-ups . John Boehner, the former speaker of the House, was among the guests who rode elevators to the top floor of Riggs Washington D.C., a luxury hotel in the Penn Quarter where Puck was hosting a party with the talent agency William Morris Endeavor .

The screenwriter and playwright Aaron Sorkin sat for an interview with the Puck writers Matthew Belloni and Peter Hamby that was recorded for Mr. Belloni’s podcast, “The Town.” Mr. Sorkin offered his takes on TikTok and artificial intelligence before the presidential campaign came up.

“Can I get an Aaron Sorkin anxiety check on Joe Biden and his re-election chances?” Mr. Hamby asked.

“I’m as worried as can be,” Mr. Sorkin responded.

As Mr. Sorkin delivered a monologue about Meta’s handling of misinformation during the 2020 election, guests who were not in the mood for wonky conversation posed for selfies at kiosks provided by Snap, formerly Snapchat, in the other room.

Joanna Coles, the onetime Hearst Magazines executive who was recently named the content chief of The Daily Beast, navigated podcasters sipping espresso martinis. Areas of interest for The Beast under her leadership? “Money, ambition, power, revenge and betrayal,” she said. “And, of course, we’re captivated by Lauren Sanchez.”

Nearby, Jon Favreau, the Obama speechwriter turned “Pod Save America” host, observed that the weekend’s social scene seemed to have rallied since its Covid-era lull. “It’s a lot of people like, ‘We’re out, we’re back, we’re partying,’” he said. “It’s like a high school reunion with grown-ups.”

The next night the social whirl moved to the Kalorama neighborhood, where a party for the digital news outlet Semafor took place under the watch of Secret Service agents in a private home not far from the Obamas’ residence.

The house belonged to Justin Smith, the former chief executive of Bloomberg Media who, in 2022, joined forces with Ben Smith, the former top editor of BuzzFeed News, to start Semafor.

Standing in his kitchen, Justin Smith said that his teenage son was upstairs playing video games and his Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Teddy, was in the basement. He lamented that the dog did not have a more distinctive name; a mistake he did not repeat when naming Semafor.

Ben Smith, who put in a roughly two-year stint as the media columnist for The New York Times, was seen joking around with the White House communications director Ben LaBolt. Other guests included Jim Bankoff, the chief executive of Vox Media, and Kasie Hunt, the CNN This Morning host.

Although he seemed bullish about his own operation, Justin Smith said he was stressed about how the news media would handle the upcoming presidential election. “It’s sort of unprecedented, the amount of misinformation, the amount of polarization, the amount of bias,” he said.

He continued: “Can everyone appeal to their better angels and somehow rise above a lot of this stuff and really look at things objectively and factually and independently?”

In a backyard lit by magenta floodlights, a photo backdrop with Semafor branding was set up next to a basketball hoop. The D.J. Lance Reynolds played relaxed music from the patio, where guests sipped rum punch with their backs to the pool. Everyone appeared a little wary of dancing — it seemed all too easy to fall in.

Callie Holtermann reports on style and pop culture for The Times. More about Callie Holtermann

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