A football championship celebration went rowdy over the weekend at Citadel High, and now the police are involved. The Citadel Phoenix football team won their 3rd straight provincial championship over the weekend Showering after the game at the high school, a few players lingered on after the coaches left. A few cell phone text messages later and some fourty teens are soon whooping it up inside the school. Alcohol was involved. Windows were smashed and graffiti written on interior walls. A passerby noticed something untoward around 7:30pm and called police. When the cops arrived, the partiers fled the scene. While no discipline has apparently been dished out yet, it's clear a message has to be sent. Suspensions of those involved are a must, including the team's coaches who left students behind unsupervised. And depending on the number of football team players involved, and the extent of damage to the school, perhaps a team suspension for next season is also something that should be considered. Kids today must learn the lesson that there are consequences for their actions.
I wonder how soon before video of the group's antics are posted on YouTube?
The much despised overnight winter parking ban takes effect in the city December 15th. Violators will be fined $50. The decision to impose the ban has riled up residents who wonder why tickets are issued on clear weather days. Last winter's mild conditions, with little snow, still saw the city haul in over a half million dollars in fines. Police in other cities use their discretion when there is no snow in the forecast. Why not here? Can you say cash grab?
The city's garbage czar is talking again about imposing more bag limits and mandating the use of clear garbage bags. Gord Helm tells me their surveys indicate 32% of the residential garbage left at curbside could be recycled. That number's even higher for commercial outlets. Clear bags he says would allow crews to see if there's recyclable material inside. Those bags would then be left at the curb on pickup days. It's a policy other municipalities in the province have adopted, but so far HRM council has been reluctant to follow suit. A report will go to council sometime in the next few weeks.
Residents of the Glooscap First Nation have successfully convinced their band council to hold a special meeting about the salaries paid to the chief and council members. Angry residents presented a petition yesterday demanding the session to hear why the chief and councillors have earned a combined $1.7 million in salaries. They've been promised an explanation at a meeting later this week. It will be interesting to hear their elected representatives explain their riches while some band members live on welfare.
I'll also watch with interest to see how the federal Liberals explain their by-election loss in Vaughn, Ontario yesterday to the Conservatives. Former OPP commissioner and Toronto police chief Julian Fantino took the long-time Liberal seat in the vote, ending 22 years of Grit rule there. Is the Liberal hold on Metro Toronto crumbling? Not a good sign with talk of a general election perhaps in the spring. The by-election results aren't all bad news for the Grits. The party took Winnipeg North from the NDP last night. The Conservatives won yesterday's third by-election in another Manitoba riding.
Has the Robert Latimer saga come to an end? The Saskatchewan farmer who killed his severely disabled daughter has now been granted full parole as of December 6th. He was convicted in 1993 of murder in the death of his 12 year old daughter Tracy who had cerebral palsey. She died of carbon monoxide poisoning. He said he wanted to end her suffering. Many Canadians had a great deal of sympathy for Latimer. And while I felt sorry for his plight, I also believed he,nor anyone, has the right to take another human being's life. Latimer deserved the punishment the courts handed out. He has now served his time and I wish him well as he attempts to bring some normlacy back to his and family's life.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
