Another car-pedestrian collision last night on Quinpool Road, just hours after Halifax police launched what they're calling a pedestrian safety blitz over the next several weeks. The 23 year old woman struck last night is okay and the car's driver has been ticketed with failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. Four people died in car-pedestrian accidents in the city last year and 32 people were injured. Police have pinpointed the 6 most dangerous intersections around HRM and will focus their efforts at those locations that will include stopping drivers and pedestrians whose actions they consider unsafe. It won't necessarily mean a ticket however. The Traffic Unit's Constable Ray Quesnel told my radio show yesterday it's more of an education effort right now. While that is certainly welcomed, there's clearly a need to crack down on unsafe drivers and walkers. Many have forgotten or simply ignore the rules of the road. Dishing out fines in the hundreds of dollars would certainly lead to the change in behaviour police are hoping for.
Auditor general Jacques Lapointe released an update yesterday on his 2010 report on MLA expenses. That report led to significant changes in how our politicians spend taxpayer dollars. This report has no references to generators, big screen tv's, digital cameras and such. Indeed, Lapointe told reporters yesterday he's happy to say those problems no longer exist. The AG however did point out a $27 million mistake in the projected deficit in last spring's budget. The government knew about it he said but didn't tell anyone about it. The opposition's crying foul of course but the finance minister says there was nothing sinister involved. The premier says cabinet wasn't even aware of the error. Lapointe says he couldn't determine if the mistake was deliberate or not.
As Justice Minister Ross Landry refers the so-called hit man case to the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP, CBC has posted a video showing Nicole Ryan asking an undercover cop she thought was a hit man if he would kill her husband. "I need it done this weekend. Is it possible?" she asks. The video shows her giving the cop $2000 in cash as a retainer. He asks if her husband had ever hit her. No she replied. Ryan was arrested the next day. Her now ex-husband Michael Ryan says while he's pleased the case has been referred to the public complaints commission that will determine whether the RCMP blew how it handled his former wife's complaints about abuse, he still wants a public inquiry. Ryan denies all of his wife's allegations and he says a public inquiry would give him the chance to clear his name.
Back in the day, journalist Mike Duffy would have crucified anyone who did what he did last evening. Now a senator, Duffy was the guest speaker at the annual dinner of the Martime Energy Association last night in Halifax. Duffy of course is now under fire over his claims for living expenses as the Senate investigates whether its members actually live where they say they do. Duffy claims his primary residence is a cottage in Cavendish, PEI even though he has lived full time in Ottawa since 2003, long before he was appointed to the senate. When his speech ended last night Duffy declined to answer reporter's questions and ducked out a back entrance to avoid thier inquiries. What's that say about his credibility?
Anne of Green Gables fans are aghast. Can you blame them? The cover of a new collection of Lucy Maude Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables stories features not a red-haired, pig-tailed girlish Anne, but a sultry blonde Anne posing like a pinup girl. I think Lucy Maude's rolling over in her grave right now.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
