Two vigils are planned Friday here in Nova Scotia to remember Amanda Todd, the young British Columbia teen who took her own life after posting a video on YouTube about the bullying she was enduring. Her aunt, Leana Todd of Truro, is organizing the vigils, one in Truro and the other in Halifax Friday. Statistics indicate 4 teens die each week in Canada from suicide, most because of bullying issues. Todd says it's becoming an epidemic. She says its not okay to just sit around and let this happen. Something, she says, has to change. Last year in Nova Scotia at least three teenage girls committed suicide because of bullying with unconfirmed reports suggesting as many as a dozen may have taken their own lives. Todd is right. It is not okay to sit around and let it continue. Good for her for attempting to do something. Now what about the rest of us??
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has dug up some numbers sure to result in a debate. Over 137 million cigarettes were sold tax free last year, apparently for the personal use of status aboriginal people in the province. It works out to about a pack a day for each of the 15,000 status natives in Nova Scotia, including children. The federation's Kevin Lacey doubts kids are smoking. He suspects a large quantity of the cigarettes are being sold to non natives, a violation of the law. Lacey says the numbers show that natives, about 1.5% of the province's population account for 13% of the province's cigarette consumption. He's calling on the province to investigate and points out the province is losing tax revenue as a result, money that could be spent on education and health care. With tax money at stake, you'd think the province would jump on the issue, but Lacey doubts the government has any desire to take on the aboriginal community on the issue.
It's infuriating to think an individual tagged as a high risk sex offender, likely to continue to commit sex crimes, has been released from prison and may be living among us. Halifax police say 38 year old Ronald James Aucoin, a man with a history of sex crimes against children, was released from prison yesterday. He's under court orders banning contact with anyone under 16, but Aucoin has breached court orders in the past. Police won't confirm where he might be living, but they are warning against any type of vigilantism. I think residents should be made aware a sicko is moving into their neighbourhood. It would at the least give them the opportunity to be aware of his presence and allow them to take the necessary precautions to protect their children. And if Aucoin has been assessed to be a repeat offender, then why the hell is he allowed out of jail at all??
Liberals were going ga-ga over Justin Trudeau in Halifax last evening. Trudeau was attending a party fund-raising dinner after some campaigning earlier in the day with former Liberal MP Mike Savage, now a candidate for the Halifax mayoralty. During last night's event word broke about Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty's surprise resignation with speculation he's considering a run for the federal Liberal party leadership. The more the merrier says Trudeau. McGuinty told reporters the leadership wasn't in his plans, but Canadian Press was reporting he already has a campaign team in place. Trudeau by the way will be speaking to students at Citadel High this afternoon.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
