The Dalhousie women's hockey team is asking the university for the second chance. And less the university has more evidence than is what now being publicly discussed, then it must. The team's been suspended for the rest of the AUS season over a hazing incident at a September house party. We're told it involved some drinking games but no one was forced to drink, rookies were told to find whipping cream, hot peppers and sardines, then asked to eat them. They were dressed up in odd clothing, had their hair greased with vasoline and their faces painted. Yes, it was a violation of the university's no hazing policy, and punishment of some sort is appropriate. But the rather innocous events of that night to me suggest the university over-reacted with its season ending ban. This is clearly not the humiliation, intimidation and bullying the university has suggested happened at the party. If it has more evidence to back up its claim, then present it. If not, give the girls back their hockey season.
Halifax Water's latest proposed rate hike will add roughly $200 more a year to the average residential water bill, but for big water users like Oland Brewery and Capital Health it will mean increases in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Capital Health for example is predicting a $300,000 increase. I'm not suggesting users shouldn't pay their fair share, but a 6 figure increase is outrageous. Halifax Water received its last significant rate hike just over 2 years ago. Now it wants another double digit increase. Part of the reason is to fix the many years of infrastructure neglect and now it appears we have to pay the bill. It's estimated replacing aging sewar and water pipes could toip $2 billion. Before any further rate hikes, there needs to be a financial audit of the agency to see if the right decisions have been made over the years on how Halifax Water has been spending our money.
How do you lose money running a Tim Horton's store? Turn it over to the public sector of course. The QE2 Health Sciences Centre actually runs 4 Tim Horton's outlets on site. CTV's supper hour news with a story last night reporting they lost $1.4 million last year. And money to cover the losses is coming out of the health care budget. First off I have to wonder why a hospital needs 4 coffee shops. Secondly, and more importantly, why is money coming out of the health care budget to run a coffee shop? Capital Health says its now looking to get out of the business. It can't happen fast enough.
Surely the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp has better things to do with its time than try to shut down small businesses. 3 U-Vint operators, beer and wine kit stores that allow people to manufacture their own beer or wine on site, will be in court today fighting an injunction from the NSLC ordering them to stop. The small businesses say it will shut them down. The Liquor Corp says what they're doing is against the law. If that's indeed the case, the law needs to be changed.
Have a great weekend. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
