More ammunition's been provided to those fighting open pen salmon farming in Nova Scotia, thanks to west coast anti fish farming activist and marine biologist Alexandra Morton. She's been buying salmon at grocery stores around the Maritimes and posting images online of salmon she says are infected with sea lice. Sobey's has responded by pulling salmon from all of its stores, all 84 in the region. Now some claim sea lice aren't an issue, but I've got to think the ick factor alone is enough. But if indeed sea lice are the big problem Morton says they are, clearly the province has to reconsider its approval of these open pen salmon famrs.
Sidney Crosby's reconsidering his decision so far to stick close to home rather than join the hordes of NHL'ers who've headed over to Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Russia to play during the lockout. Talks haven't broken off between the NHL and its players association, but the rhetoric yesterday from both sides, after the players presented three counter-proposals to the league's offer given Tuesday, clearly shows they are very far apart. If Crosby goes, we're in for a long winter without hockey. Word is if a deal isn't reached by next Wednesday, the NHL is prepared to shut down all games the rest of this year, the winter classic and possibly the all star game.
The city's chief returning officer says just over 22% of HRM's eligible voters cast their votes online or by phone this year. The chance to vote from home ended last night with just over a fifth of voters taking advantage of the opportunity. Cathy Mellett is pleased with the numbers, but again, I wonder if these aren't people who'd vote anyway, not an influx of new voters. I hope I'm wrong. We'll find out tomorrow. Last election's 37% turnout was pitiful. If you've already voted, thank you. If you haven't, I again urge you to take a few minutes Saturday and do so.
Tune in to News 95.7 at 7 tomorrow evening. I'll be hosting our election coverage. Outgoing Mayor Peter Kelly will be joining me in the studio.
I can't agree with Peninsula South candidate Gerry Walsh's concerns about an e-mail a landlord has sent his tenants urging them to vote for incumbent Sue Uteck. Walsh calls it inappropriate at best and interference at worst. I don't think it's any worse than other organizations like the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour or Students First Nova Scotia who are endorsing candidates for tomorrow's election. We're all grownups. We can consider their advice, then make up our own minds.
A tip of the ball cap to the residents of Boultilier's Point who are taking a stand against crime. CBC's reporting dozens of homes in the area have been broken into. A man has now been charged with some of the break-ins and he'll be in court next week. Resident Vern Sklafsky will be there as well and he's urging his fellow residents to join him in court that day as well. He tells CBC, "We will bring our frowns and let him know we don't want him doing this any more." Good for Vern and the residents who'll join him next week.
The Harper government's brought in MP pension reforms that are being welcomed by critics like the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Once enacted the reforms will see MP's paying more into their pension funds, about $1 for every $1.62 from taxpayers, clearly much better than the $1 for every $24 now in place. But let's watch to see if they don't try to sneak in some big raises for themselves to cover their extra costs.
Have a great weekend. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
Shame on you Patrick Moore, as an ex-fish farmer you know that sea lice breed rapidly on salmon farms and cause damage to juvenile wild salmon. You also know that drugs are used to try and bring sea lice under control. You may not know that the lobster fishermen of the Maritimes are concerned about these drugs killing lobster and damaging their opportunity to make a living. Yes, sea lice are natural, but like all feedlots, salmon farms cause lice populations to explode.