Irresponsible government in Nova Scotia
Twice in the past ten days, “clerical errors” led to the mistaken release of prisoners from custody. One has since been apprehended, the other is still at large. That brings to seven the total number of mistaken releases or prisoner escapes since Cecil Clarke became Nova Scotia’s Minister of Justice in October 2007.
Yesterday, Mr Clarke finally realised that he is the minister responsible and did the right thing. He tried to, anyway, but Conservative Premier Rodney MacDonald wouldn’t let him.
Embattled Justice Minister Cecil Clarke, reeling from a string of mistakenly released prisoners under his watch, including two in the last 10 days, offered to quit Wednesday evening.
Premier Rodney MacDonald turned him down.
Mr. Clarke said Thursday that the buck stops with him as minister.
Bizarrely, Premier MacDonald refused to confirm that Mr Clarke had indeed offered to resign.
In any case, according to Halifax Chronicle-Herald cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon, at least one Canadian imprisoned in a foreign country wants a transfer to Nova Scotia.
Click here for a rundown of the NS Justice Department screw-ups.