Tory mudslingers
The late-stage mudslinging in the Nova Scotia PC Party leadership race makes one thing clear: While Julie Chaisson respectfully focuses on her campaign, three of her fellow candidates believe Tim Houston is way out in front. Cecil Clarke, John Lohr and Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin left the final debate in Truro seemingly in agreement that it was a time for “unity,” and then commenced an onslaught against the presumed frontrunner, Houston, with email as their mortar of preference.
The Clarke campaign led the way, seemingly giving campaign manager Chad Bowie carte blanche. Bowie describes campaigns as “dogfights” in interviews about his field of expertise, and is described as having an affection for American politics. His tactics sank to a new low last week when the Clarke campaign shared screenshots of social media comments by one of Cape Breton’s most notorious Clarke critics, labelling him a Tim Houston campaign team member. Clarke, of course, knows full well this isn’t true.
The individual has been a vocal critic long before the PC leadership race kicked off. The critic has protested Clarke’s birthday fundraiser and was also escorted out of CBRM council sessions during a stand-in protest.
—Joe Ward, Sydney
Vote for the earth
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent landmark 1.5ºC report was explicit: We need to stop expanding fossil fuel use, strengthen our climate targets and take rapid strides to build a 100 percent renewable energy economy that works for everyone. It said that governments and citizens of the world must act immediately and decisively to limit the catastrophic effects of climate change that we’re hurtling towards. In Nova Scotia, this means saying NO! to BP’s deepwater drilling (“City council refuses to voice offshore drilling opposition,” Reality Bites story by Jacob Boon, posted October 17).
On Tuesday, October 16, HRM councillor Richard Zurawski properly demonstrated the responsibility of an elected official by asking Halifax council to support a non-binding resolution in opposition to BP’s offshore drilling and oil exploration. Similar stands against BP drilling have been passed by other Nova Scotia municipalities, including Mahone Bay and Lunenburg. Sadly, Halifax council defeated the motion on a 10-6 vote.
Those six councillors who voted yes to this resolution understand the urgent necessity of protection for the living environment. They are councillors Shawn Cleary, Lisa Blackburn, Stephen Adams, Waye Mason, Lindell Smith and Zurawski.
—Richard Peisinger, via email
Contrary to the view that offshore issues are not “our jurisdiction,” as councillor David Hendsbee is quoted in the story, both oil exploration and offshore drilling are matters that the city should be concerned about. Exploration and drilling mean money and jobs to the city, while the drilling could be more dangerous if a spill happens.
—posted at thecoast.ca by Philip Turnbull
In the wake of the IPCC report, I beseech you to do anything you can to make people understand how dire the situation is. It is up to the media to let its readers and listeners know what is happening in the world in which we live. Please consider your responsibility to people in your audience. Thank you for your kind attention to a situation that will impact you, me and everyone else under 85 years of age.
—Frank Martens, via email
Those councillors who voted against Zurawki’s motion are human garbage bags.
—posted by Kakera
IWK justice
One year ago the board of directors of the IWK Health Centre asked Halifax Regional Police to investigate the matter of past CEO Tracy Kitch’s travel and hospitality expenses, in relation to the findings of a board-commissioned audit. We have just been informed that HRP has laid criminal charges against Kitch and former CFO Stephen D’Arcy. We are pleased this matter is moving forward. As it is now before the courts we will not be commenting further.
—Karen Hutt, chair of IWK board of directors
