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4 local NSP seeks nod for wind farm investment
‘Hard time’ for crime: Victim RYAN TAPLIN/METRO HALIFAX
Scotia Power is seeking approval for a $27.8-million investment in a wind farm planned for the Strait area in Cape Breton. The utility, a subsidiary of Emera Inc. has applied to the province’s Utility and Review Board for approval to partner with Renewable Energy Services Ltd. Last February, Nova Scotia Power signed a contract with the company to buy energy from a 22-megawatt wind farm to be built at Point Tupper. Renewable Energy Services will build and operate the wind farm while Nova Scotia Power will buy 49 per cent of the project. The wind farm, which is scheduled to come online this year, will produce enough energy to serve about 6,000 homes in Nova Scotia. Renewable Energy Services owns and operates turbines across the province in a number of communities and has two wind farms in development in Alberta.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Provincial minister extends condolences in death of African Nova Scotian elder African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Percy Paris has extended condolences to friends and family of Willena Jones, who died Monday in Truro. He said Jones was a respected elder who impacted youth in the African Nova Scotian community. Jones was one of six Leading Ladies for African Heritage Month. METRO HALIFAX
ENERGY Nova
THE CANADIAN PRESS
Yarmouth civic leaders try for ferry subsidy OPERATING COSTS Municipal
News in brief BADDECK RCMP arrested a
man at a Baddeck residence Monday following a violent assault over the weekend. Mounties say one male sustained serious injuries to his head in the attack. CAPE BRETON POST
Father of 7 says cross burners should feel full force of law Shayne Howe doesn’t know who is responsible. He doesn’t know the thought process behind it, either. But the 31-year-old from Newport, Hants Co., said when the people responsible for the lighting of a twometre burning cross on his family’s front lawn get caught, they deserve to have the justice system come down hard on them — very hard. “I think they should get the maximum punishment,” Howe, a black man, told Metro in no uncertain terms yesterday. “No slap on the wrist. They deserve hard time.”
While a few days have passed since Howe and his family looked outside their window after midnight Sunday to find a burning cross with a noose on it staring back at them, the impact of this disturbing incident still very much affects them. Besides the cross, Howe said a group of males outside also shouted racial slurs at him when he went to investigate. Presently, Howe is keeping his kids out of school because, “I just feel safer right now to have them next to me.” He also is growing more suspicious this was in fact a hate crime, something police are looking into the possibility of. Howe said if it was a bad
Investigation • RCMP spokeswoman Sgt. Brigdit Leger said yesterday they are receiving assistance from the public and are following up on several leads in this case, but there have been no arrests. She said they believe at least two individuals were involved, and a vehicle was used to get to and from the home. joke, he’d expect those responsible to have come forward by now and apologize. That hasn’t happened. But others are coming forward — both in and outside of his community — to offer words and actions of support to Howe and his fiancée, Michelle Lyon, who
is white, and their five children. Howe has two other children from a previous relationship. “We have a lot of support from a lot of people,” he said. That includes calls from local politicians, including Scott Brison, the MP for Kings-Hants, who called Monday from Washington, D.C., where he was meeting U.S. government officials. A Facebook page titled Support for Shayne Howe and Michelle Lyon of Hants County, NS has also been started. By 9 p.m. last night, more than 3,100 people had joined the group. “It’s almost like I’m a celebrity,” Howe said. “It’s not a good feeling though — not for the reason I’m on camera.”
METRO HALIFAX AND THE CANADIAN PRESS
Marchers in downtown Halifax rally against racism Amidst the news of Africville reparations and a cross burning in Hants County, a rally against racism moved through downtown Halifax yesterday. Between 40 and 50 people, both black and white, took place in the march, waving signs and chanting demands for equality. The demonstration was to highlight an alleged lack of action on human rights complaints. It ended in front of city hall where Mayor Peter Kelly came out to the crowd to listen to organizer Charlie Adams speak on a megaphone. “Mr. Mayor we have come together today to request
PROTEST
change from you, to help us,” said Adams. “Understand that your constituents are hurting. Understand that we have seen this all before with our forefathers.” Adams, a city building official, filed a human rights complaint two years ago alleging nepotism, favouritism and discrimination at his workplace. Adams said he hopes the rally will result in “more awareness to the injustices that are done every day and just a human awareness of people and the feelings of people.” Kelly then gave a brief address to the crowd. “We know that we have work to do. Nobody’s per-
RYAN TAPLIN/METRO HALIFAX
leaders of Yarmouth County have sent a letter to Premier Darrell Dexter asking the province to cover 50 per cent of the cost for an operating subsidy for the Cat Ferry this year, with them picking up the rest of the tab. The four municipal units include the Town of Yarmouth, and the districts of Yarmouth, Argyle and Clare. The group is asking for Dexter to give them a decision by no later than Friday. The NDP announced late last year that they rejected Bay Ferries desired $5-million to $10-million subsidy needed to keep the seasonal ferry running between Yarmouth and Maine. Since this decision, many people from around the Yarmouth region have asked for the premier to reconsider as they believe the loss of the ferry will deliver a huge economic blow to the town. METRO HALIFAX
REACTION Hants West MLA Chuck Porter said yesterday in a release he was shocked and saddened to learn a family from his community was the target of a racial incident that included a cross burning on their front lawn. “It is absolutely unacceptable that something like this could happen in 2010, and these per- “It is petrators absolutely must be unacceptbrought to able that justice,” something he said. The like this Canadian could Jewish Congress happen in is also 2010, and condemning the in- these perpetracident, calling it tors must an “outrageous at- be brought tack” on a to justice.” mixedChuck race couPorter, Hants ple. In a West MLA news release, congress president Mark Freiman called the incident the “embodiment of hate” and said it is a hate crime of serious magnitude. Jon Goldberg, executive director of the Atlantic Jewish Council, said the RCMP should pursue the potential hate crime aspect of the case should any charges be laid.
Shayne Howe and his fiancée, Michelle Lyon, stand outside their home near Windsor on Monday. A two-metre burning cross with a noose on it was left in their front yard early Sunday. Howe wants those responsible for the cross to be severely punished if they are caught.
PHILIP CROUCHER philip.croucher@metronews.ca
Racial targeting condemned
Anti-racism protesters turn on to Rainnie Drive as they march from the Halifax North Memorial Library to city hall yesterday.
fect but we strive to be an inclusive workplace and we’ll continue to do the
best job that we can to make sure that it’s full and complete,” he said.
Several members of the crowd thanked Kelly for coming out to speak to them. Many participants in the march said the mood was affected by the news of a cross burning outside the home of a black man and white woman near Windsor. “It does change the tone,” said Tammy Dixon, who brought her baby along to the march. “It’s a shame that that gentleman, Mr. Howe, now has to live in fear in his own home ... it puts a bad taste in your mouth that this is still going on, and not just in Nova Scotia but all over the world.” RYAN TAPLIN/METRO HALIFAX