Halifax continues to be pegged as a violent city. New figures from Stats Canada say this city has seen a 6% increase in violent crime last year over 2010 and we had the second highest homicide rate in the country. Only Winnipeg stood in the way of this city being labelled Canada's murder capital. Last year was a record year for murders in the city with 19 or 4.4 murders per 100,000 people. The national rate was 1.7. There were also 75 shootings in the city last year. Police say they're making a dent in the crime stats this year with 30% fewer homicides and attempted murders so far. They insist they're targeting people involved in violence and have so far this year seized over 600 guns. The violence label has been a tough one for Halifax to shake in previous years. Whether police efforts this year can turn that around remains an open question.
He's charged with first degree murder, but the talk is a deal's in the works. 18 year old Jamie Gallant is charged with the murder of 79 year old Lavinia Campbell in her Dartmouth home last December. She'd been beaten to death with a flashlight. He's due back in court August 30th but his lawyer says there have been talks with the Crown on a resolution, ie, a deal. These arrangments are part of what's wrong with our criminal justice system today. If this young man committed a murder, then let him stand trial on a charge of murder and let him face the music.
An interesting twist in the case of the navy officer accused of passing secrets on to a foreign power, most likely the Russians. Media reports out of Australia say that country's high commissioner to Canada has been briefed on the case of Sub-Lt Jeffrey Delisle by Prime Minister Harper's national security advisor. It appears Australian security may have been compromised by whatever information Delisle is accused of passing on. Harper's not commenting, saying he doesn't speak about national security matters. The Delisle case is slowly making its way through the courts. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for October.
Hello to Canada's premiers gathering in Nova Scotia this week. They're meeting with First Nation's leaders today in Lunenburg before moving on to Halifax tomorrow and Friday for a Council of the Federation meeting, a fancy name for the premier's get together. A national energy strategy and health care top the agenda.
CBC Nova Scotia reporter Rob Gordon with a great story on last night's supper hour news. He was at the gravesite of former premier Robert L Stanfield in the Camp Hill cemetary, a grave covered with trash. Apparently its a popular spot for young people to hang out at, kids with little concern about where they dump their coffee cups, etc. A good samaritan dumped the trash yesterday into a nearby garbage bin, but apparently this is an on-going thing. A police prescence for a few nights might dissuade the practice.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
