Halifax Regional Police have been disappointed with the results of their most recent gun amnesty program. Since June 26, the program—which offers “law-abiding citizens the opportunity to turn over unregistered/unwanted guns and ammunition without penalty”—has only netted 21 firearms. To date, the police have collected a variety of weapons, including antiques (a rifle likely dating back to the 1800s), non-lethal firearms (a pellet gun) and an illegally sawed-off shotgun (considerably more frightening than the pellet gun). The amnesty program was originally scheduled to end on July 14, but has now been extended until August 10 due to the relatively low public response. A similar initiative in 2000 yielded more than 150 weapons. If you’ve got an unregistered heater at home, call 490-5020 to arrange a removal (please, don’t bring your unwanted guns directly into a police station. That will not work out well for you. Common sense, people!).
See sea. See sea warm. Warm, sea, warm
A large patch of unusually warm water in the Atlantic Ocean near Nova Scotia has weather watchers worried about the possibility of a hurricane hitting our province this season. Experts with the Canadian Hurricane Centre have noted that temperatures are two-to-five degrees above average in a million square kilometres of coastal waters and that the warmer conditions could help sustain a hurricane moving north along the eastern seaboard. In 2003, the year of Halifax’s infamous run-in with Hurricane Juan, the waters south of Nova Scotia were similarly three-to-four degrees hotter than normal. This year’s conditions are cause for concern, but not outright panic—regarding the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean, the CHC has stated, “the average over the last 10 years is substantially higher than the 50-year average, ” and that “many people are wondering if we are witnessing a new normal.” Actually, maybe that is cause for outright panic. Global warming, anyone?
Change of Plans
Halifax officially launched its Regional Centre Urban Design Study on July 5. According to a press release, the study “will deal with the nature, intensity and quality of development, both in the private and public realms.” Although related, the study should not be confused with the city’s recently passed Regional Plan, a sweeping 170-page document designed to “maintain and enhance our quality of life while ensuring a strong economy and a healthy and sustainable environment.” Nor should it be mistaken for the Cultural Plan—passed in March—reflecting “HRM’s arts, history and heritage, urban design, leisure and education, cultural economic development, and community diversity.” The Urban Design Study is also not to be confused with the city’s Spring Garden Road/Queen Street Area Public Lands Plan, the Grand Parade/Province House/Birks Site Public Lands Plan, the Active Transportation Plan, the Economic Development Strategy, the Clean Air Strategy, the Immigration Action Plan, the Barrington Street Heritage District Revitaliz-ation Plan, the Blueprint for a Bicycle Friendly HRM, or any other city-initiated plan we may have missed. Frankly, we must have missed a couple, because my god there are a lot of them! We sure hope someone out there is drafting a Plan Coordination Plan. Got plans? Email: mikef@thecoast.ca
This article appears in Jul 13-19, 2006.