Disgraced and convicted former MLA Russell MacKinnon says he didn't do anything wrong. I remind you MacKinnon was convicted last Friday in a legal court of law on one count of breach of trust in connection with the MLA expenses scandal. He pleaded guilty in fact after initially denying any wrongdoing. Despite the plea MacKinnon told both CTV and CBC's supper hour news last evening he doesn't think he's a criminal and indeed, referred to his guilty plea as basically a technicality. No remorse at all from this fellow. A little jail time might have reminded him of his crime.
MacKinnon also rejects calls that he and other convicted politicians should be stripped of their publicly-funded pensions. He says he worked hard for his constituents, paid into the pension plan and he's entitled to his benefits. There's nothing taxpayers could do now anyway because the pensions are protected under the law. But Deputy Premier Frank Corbett has now offered to begin discussions with the opposition on the question. Both Liberal Stephen MacNeil and PC leader Jamie Baillie say they're interested. Now let's see if anything really gets done. I won't hold my breath.
MacKinnon by the way is now serving his 4 month house arrest sentence in the confines of his very nice home on the Northwest Arm while he collects his pension.
Wow. The boys on the journalists panel on Don Martin's show on CTV last night were certainly ganging up on Justin Trudeau over his "Just watch me" comment to a passenger on a recent flight, suggesting the remark was rather immature and showed a lack of understanding about the history of Trudeau's father's more famous comment as he imposed martial law in Quebec. Trudeau, Justin that is, was sent a note on the flight from Mike Kydd, a long-time Tory supporter and one time staffer in Rodney MacDonald's office. It asked if he thought he really could beat Stephen Harper and Trudeau wrote back "Just watch me." Kydd of course was only too willing to share the comment with the media and the thing went viral. I thought the remark was rather amusing but I guess some of the fuddy-duddies on the Hill thought otherwise. Still, anything Justin Trudeau these days is hot news.
Why would we ever let Michael Gerard Cooper out of jail? He was sentenced to 7 years in prison in 2007 on two counts of impaired driving causing the deaths of a young Cape Breton couple, two students on their way home for some family celebrations when Cooper's truck crossed the centre line on the 104 and crashed into their car. His blood alcohol level was three times the legal amount. The Parole Board has denied him parole and says he must serve out his full sentence because it fears he is likely to commit another offence causing death or serious harm. The man has a history of impaired driving. Unfortunately his sentence runs out next January.
Could major league baseball return to Montreal? I wish. But if former Montreal Expo Warren Cromartie has anything to say about it, the answer would be yes. Cro's the head of the Montreal Baseball Project. That group and the Montreal Chamber of Commerce launched a feasibility study yesterday to see what kind of interest there might be in bringing baseball back to the city. I watched the Expos play at both Jarry Park and Olympic Stadium and love Montreal. It would be great to see the sport back there. The big roadblock however, as is the case with Halifax's wishes for a CFL franchise, is the lack of a stadium. Only when that issue is resolved can either city see its dreams become reality.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
