Police now suspect the two Nova Scotian men wanted on charges of sexual assault and forcible confinement may be in Ontario. The pair was driving separate vehicles, but ditched their van and were travelling in a 2003 grey Hyundai Elantra with Nova Scotia license plate FBP 233. As police hunt for David James Leblanc and Wayne Allan Cunningham, we're learning more about what happened to their victim, a 16 year old teenage boy. He'd been held in chains in a rural home and sexually abused over a two week period. The youth says he was living on the streets of Halifax when he was offered a job and taken to the Lunenburg County home. He believed he was going to be killed or sold as a sex slave. Let's hope the cops catch these monsters soon.
Irene Smith of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre in Halifax rightfully questions why at least one of the two men police are looking for wasn't either in jail or under stricter court conditions. David James Leblanc was free after being charged a year ago with sexual assault, sexual interference against two young boys and making and distributing child pornography. Smith points to others facing sex charges who were given very strict conditions, but in this case there were not. She wonders if our legal system isn't putting the public at risk with the release of people like Leblanc.
The Dexter government doing some back-pedalling yesterday after realizing cuts to education funding went a little too far. Education minister Ramona Jennex announced the province would start hiring immediately 45 new teachers to bring down class sizes in grades Primary to 3. In some schools there were 30 students. While not admitting a mistake was made, Jennex says she's been listening to parents and teachers and "we must do things differently to help our students achieve better results." She might also want to review inclusion. In many classes special needs children take up a lot of teacher's time, and with fewer teacher's aides, it's now more acute.
We'll have to say goodbye to Jane's on the common the end of this year. The popular restaurant on Robie Street will service its last meal December 31st when its lease runs out. Building owner Abraham Salloum, he of Tony's Pizza fame, apparently has other plans for the building. I hear talk of condos. Jane's has a loyal following and has won a heap of awards. Her fans will miss the place.
Have a great weekend. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
