Is it just coincidence I wonder, that just after Gary Bettman and Donald Fehr get involved in this week's NHL contract negotiations, the talks collapse. There's apparently big friction between the two. Without Bettman and Fehr, Tuesday and Wednesday's talks, involving a group of players and 6 owners, seemed to be making real progress. The NHL commissioner and NHLPA executive director rejoined the negotiations yesterday and poof, that was the end of it. Fehr told reporters the two sides were very close, an assertion Bettman rejects. But several hockey insiders felt a deal was close, perhaps done by this weekend. There were even reports some NHL teams were informing players to prepare for training camps. Sportsnet's Doug Mclean told my radio show yesterday this has become a circus. It sure has and it's getting to the point where fans aren't caring anymore.
The fall session of the Nova Scotia legislature wrapped up yesterday with more of the same political bickering. Culture Minister Leonard Preyra criticized the opposition for its lack of diversity while Liberal Zack Churchill, a Lebanese Canadian, called his remarks offensive and demanded an apology. It has been an acrimonious session, fueled in part by the scent of an election. Talk of a spring vote however has been replaced by suggestions the government might wait until next fall in light of the latest CRA poll showing the Liberals with a 12 point lead in decided voter support. Power rates, a tax hike and corporate handouts have hurt this government big time. I'm not sure it can recover, even if it holds off an election for another year.
Premier Dexter was under fire yesterday after his revelation Wednesday the government had commissioned an independent study into Nova Scotia's role in the Muskrat Falls hydro project and it was nearing completion. Dexter made the announcement during his state of the province speech to the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. The opposition and the media wanted to know yesterday why he never revealed the study during emergency debates on Muskrat Falls and the many media scrums. Dexter never really answered the questions, but did deny he's seen the study's report. The opposition wonders if the reason he revealed the study was because it backs the government's support for the hydroelectric project. It's expected to be made public early in the new year.
With this city plagued by gunplay, it was good to see this week's big firearms bust. Police seized 25 guns, 15 of them handguns, after searches at two homes in Dartmouth. It began Wednesday with the targeted stop of a man in his car. That led to a search warrant for a residence on Andover Street where 4 handguns and a rifle were found. That in turn led to another search at a Braeside Court home where 11 handguns, 9 rifles and a stun gun were seized. 3 people now face charges. I've been quick to criticize police because of the rash of gun incidents the last couple of years, so let me today applaud these arrests and seizures. The more guns we get off the streets, the safer we'll all be.
Have a great weekend. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
