The cops don’t want it, but what to do with it and who owns it is proving difficult to figure out. Halifax Regional Police has generated $12,378 over the last four years by depositing seized drug money into an interest-bearing bank account. Last year’s Drug Exhibit Audit recommended that practice stop immediately—and the funds be […]
Jacob Boon
Posted inNews + Opinion
Halifax CAO off work dealing with “personal issue”
Halifax’s chief administrative officer is missing from City Hall, and the reason why might be related to a confidential motion passed earlier this week by city council. Jacques Dubé has been “out of the office dealing with a personal issue” for the past two weeks according to HRM spokesperson Brendan Elliott, and that’s basically everything […]
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Province announces expanded services to address sexual assaults
While hundreds gathered at Grand Parade to protest a Nova Scotia judge’s comments that “clearly, a drunk can consent,” the province quietly announced several new initiatives it says will support survivors of sexual assault as they navigate through the justice system. The new services include the hiring of two special prosecutors to handle sexual assault […]
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Lack of outrage over missing evidence surprises American policing expert
Maybe it’s our Canadian politeness, but one of America’s leading experts on evidence control is surprised by the lack of public outcry after hearing Halifax Regional Police have misplaced nearly 3,000 exhibits. “Here in the US, they would have challenged every case in the vault,” says Joseph Latta, executive director of the International Association for […]
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Appeals committee might offload taxi license decisions to UARB
As political leaders call for a provincial inquiry and thousands get ready to march in the streets, a procedural amendment at city hall being proposed this week could see big changes in who’s deemed fit to drive a taxi. Councillor Waye Mason will bring forward a motion at Tuesday’s meeting of Regional Council asking to […]
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PC leader calls for formal inquiry into Judge Lenehan’s consent comments
Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie wants Nova Scotia to conduct a formal inquiry into the inflammatory comments made by Judge Gregory Lenehan that “clearly, a drunk can consent.” In a release sent out Friday, Baillie says he’s written to justice minister Diana Whalen asking the province to address the issue “swiftly and conclusively.” “Victims must […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Appeals Standing Committee’s authority on taxi licenses under review
The authority of HRM’s Appeals Standing Committee to make rulings on taxi licenses is currently under review. According to municipal spokesperson Brendan Elliott, HRM is working with the province to determine if it makes sense for a standing committee of city councillors to make the kinds of decisions like the one that put Bassam Al-Rawi […]
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Street checks and balances
Do you trust the police? The Board of Police Commissioners would like to know. “You have to be open,” says BPC chair and deputy mayor Steve Craig. “You have to hear what’s being said and take that all in, whether you like what’s being said or not.” The Halifax police department’s civilian overseers are quietly […]
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City council gets 3.4 percent pay raise
It’s a little bit more than a living wage. Salary numbers for Halifax Regional Council have finally been calculated and most of the municipality’s elected officials received a modest 3.4 percent pay raise this year. Councillors will see their pay increase from $82,653 to $85,443. The deputy mayor’s salary has likewise increased from $90,918 to […]
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Evidence control problems date back decades
Over a decade since first identifying severe problems in policy and procedures, Halifax Regional Police are making progress in cleaning up the department’s evidence control system. The work is needed now more than ever, as preliminary results from a full evidence inventory review says nearly 3,000 drug and cash exhibits can’t be found. Police chief […]
Posted inNews + Opinion
Cogswell energy plan gets cautious go-ahead
An early endorsement has been given by Regional Council to creating a district energy system on the Cogswell Interchange lands slated for redevelopment. Halifax Water plans to use heat from the nearby sewage treatment plant to create enough thermal energy to heat and cool the six acres of mixed-use developable lands HRM will sell off […]
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Halifax council rights its stormwater right-of-way charge wrong
This time, for the last time, city hall has finally sorted out all of this stormwater charge business—probably. Council voted this week to put the runoff charge back onto residents’ Halifax Water bills. The much-hated fee comes from a 2013 Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board decision that ordered HRM to annually pay Halifax Water […]