Time for Accountability for Rehtaeh Parsons - My letter to the Minister of Justice Ross Landry

Dear Ross,
I write to you out of concern, frustration, and sadness over the incidents that lead up to the untimely death of Rehtaeh Parsons, a 17 year old that was taken off Life Support on Sunday evening after being raped, bullied, and cyber- bullied by schoolmates of Cole Harbour High.

My concern stems from the Crown Prosecutor’s decision to not press charges against the 4 boys who raped Rehtaeh even though a photo was circulated to other students of Cole Harbour High.  With all the technology and the ability to trace the IP addresses or MAC addresses of computers, I am puzzled that our integrated police service took so long with their investigation.  Moreover the time span during the investigation it took to interview the alleged rapists.  This is unacceptable.  Our Police Services need to address such heinous crimes in a timely manner and to conduct interviews of suspects in a timely manner!  Allowing months to go by without interviewing a suspect is absolutely unacceptable.

This brings me to my frustration; with respect to the lack of action by the High School Faculty, the Principal, and the Halifax Regional School Board Member/ School Board.  How could this type of bullying, cyber-bullying be unnoticed? Teachers are not immune to gossip and student issues.
The response from the Crown Prosecutor’s Communications person, Chris Hansen, was is just spin-doctor gibberish to deflect the genuine reality that Justice was not served.

My sadness is derived from the disappointment that Rehtaeh has perished without justice being served and that her family has been let down by the Government Agencies that are supposed to protect its citizens.  The 4 boys have gotten away with their horrific actions.  The High School has not fostered an anti-bullying program.  The Police and Justice Services have failed the citizenry of our community.

I formally request a full review of this case and that the 4 alleged rapists are brought to justice.  The Parson family have had to endure so much heartache and they need closure.   Personally, I am requesting this review for all the young women who are venerable to such crimes.  Please have your staff investigate the Todd case in British Columbia and the amendments adopted there with respect to Bullying.

Preventing another rape, bullying and subsequent death of a youth is in your hands.

Dawn Marie Sloane

Bravo Min. Jennex! HRM, smarten up and save our Neighbourhoods!

The problem with the school review is that in HRM's case it is killing established communities by forcing children to go to schools outside of their neighbourhoods which then cause the deterioration of walkable sustainable communities/ neighbourhoods. As the typical amenities are closed down or relocated, neighbourhoods lose their uniqueness, pride, and functionality. Families move and communities deteriorate, crime become rampant, and other businesses and or amenities move.

Communities suffer when the wrong choices are made with respect to the closing of community amenities. Children no longer walk to school= obesity. Eyes on the street= the feeling of being in an unsafe environment = crime. The more people move out of the established neighbourhoods the more it costs us all in taxes (to pay for the relocation of amenities and the price of new infrastructure such as sewer and water).

Our water bills are going up because of this "shift", deferred maintenance to our infrastructure is occurring which means we are going to see an increase to water bills (as stated on the news last night) that will not even come close to the $$$$ required to keep the system to a optimum working conditions.

We need to plan properly. HRM has allowed for leapfrog development ( spot development outside of the serviced area which requires the basic services - police, fire, snow removal etc) which has made our growth uncontrollable. HRM by Design tried to remedy this but Council was weak and didn't take the really necessary steps to curb the leapfrogging.

Moreover, if the correct housing developments and affordable ( a sliding scale affordable housing) was enacted, people could live within the serviceable area which would decrease the infrastructure costs, allow for the existing amenities to be utilized to their capacity ( money saving) and allow for the local businesses to thrive as the population would use the local shops in a walkable community scenario.

The other issue is the amount of money HRM gives to the developers to build the services HRM will take over after the development is concluded - otherwise known as capital cost contributions. HRM needs to revise this policy and adopt the policies Harry Kitchen and Enid Slack proposed to HRM which stated that Developers need to start adding a % of the infrastructure cost to each house built outside of the serviced area. We as existing taxpayers should not be subsiding new growth that perpetuates the closure of schools, decline of neighbourhoods, and the loss of community.

HRM Council needs to learn the word NO and to revise the planning documents so we can rebuild our urban environment so we aren’t wasting money on services that are too spread out to provide at a reasonable rate.

It's really just common sense. You cannot expect an elastic to stretch beyond its capacity and not break. Our elastic (HRM coffers) is starting to fray and deteriorate. The breaking point is nigh! Look at all the money being spent on transit and new overpasses, while our older areas are not being maintained properly.

 Are people using transit?  No.  Only a certain sector, yet HRM build overpasses, underpasses to aid the pressure of new development and the almighty vehicle... typically one person vehicles. Planning our region and using the fund for infrastructure properly should be the catalyst to change, but I fear there are too many fingers in the pot.

If the greater good is not seen as the objective, then we will continue to spiral out of control...  taxes, infrastructure costs ( for maintenance and for new) will increase and this wonderful place will drive people to other municipalities that are more affordable.