Here's a twist to our ongoing saga with power rates. According to a U.S.-based energy consultant, Nova Scotia Power owes us money. $22 million in fact. Woot! Liberty Consulting says the utility paid $22 million more than it should have for fuel the past two years. Nova Scotia Power disagrees, of course and will fight it out before the Utility and Review Board during Sepember's hearing on its request for even more of our money. :( It's looking for a 3% rate hike next year and another 3% in 2014. $22 million might sound like a lot, but the power corp estimates it would equal a 1.5% rate decrease. I'd prefer to see an actual cheque in the mail if you don't mind.
If you needed proof developer Joe Ramia is set to announce today construction will begin soon on a new downtown convention centre, just take a look at the site. The scaffolding's already going up in preparation for the work. Ramia will make it official today. Everything's a go for the development and the face of Halifax will begin to change. Good or bad? Time will tell.
Prime Minister Harper certainly stirred up a bit of a hornet's nest with his comment this week Calgary is the greatest city in the world's greatest country. Can't argue with him about Canada, but Calgary's actually not an attractive city at all. Too much sprawl. Too many tall buildings. As a kid, I hopped from military base to military base and vowed one day I would finally find a place in which to settle down. I've been to every major city in this country and Halifax is that place. Just sayin' Mr Prime Minister. Can't beat this city.
Gosh, that new bus terminal by the Dartmouth Sportsplex has been fast going up. By next month they'll be landscaping the site in preparation for its scheduled August 27th opening. The $12 million terminal will serve some 22,000 transit users, and more importantly for bus drivers, give them a place to use the bathroom.
Another young Nova Scotia woman's gone missing. 21 year old Kashmala Fida hasn't been seen for two days now after dropping her mother off for work Tuesday morning at the Colchester Regional Hospital in Truro. Her car was found in the hospital parking lot but there was nothing to indicate Kashmala's whereabouts. Truro police say disappearing like this is out of character. Police have apparently searched her parents home where she lived but whether they found any clues isn't known. Anyone who might have any information can call Truro police at 902-895-5351.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
