Here we go again

After beating a bunch of charges against him, mostly in relation to expenses he claimed on senate business, Senator Mike Duffy rocketed back to the spotlight last week. He’s taking aim at the RCMP and the Canadian Senate for their handling of the investigation into his expenses that ultimately led to him facing criminal charges.

He beat the charges against him after the Canadian public had him prematurely convicted. He continues to serve as a member of the Canadian Senate.

Can he win again? Can he successful sue the RCMP and the Senate?

By now the Canadian public knows better than to right him off.

Before all of the legal mess Duffy was in demand as a speaker at many political fundraisers. Not so much anymore.

But that could change. Win this case and Senator Duffy would have one heck of a story to tell. He wouldn’t even have to charge as the case itself comes with a $7.8 million speaker’s fee. Of course, the story has already changed. Duffy is no longer on the defensive. He is in charge.

Great Canadian Trail

Special events took place all across Canada last weekend in celebration of the completion of the Trans Canada Trail, The Great Trail.

Here on Prince Edward Island we have the Confederation Trail, available to walkers, runners and bikers for three seasons of the year and for snowmobilers during the winter.

It’s a well-maintained trail and it is growing steadily in popularity.

There are so many places along the trail where users can enter or exit at will, making it freely available to most.

The biggest complaint about the trail is that some potential users are excluded. Those include all forms of motorized vehicles (except trail maintenance equipment) and saddle horses.

Those users are excluded but not if they choose to walk or bike the trail. That’s still an option and a lot of people have chosen it.

And, for those who haven’t experienced the trail and all its beauty, it’s never too late to get out, get active and enjoy the scenery and the fresh Island air. That’s what it’s there for and, as long as motorized vehicles are kept off, it is a safer alternative than running or biking on the roads. It truly is a Great Trail.

A good cause

Thanks to the generosity of individuals who care about our history, the Leard’s Grist Mill in Coleman is finally being stabilized. It was raised last week in preparation for being placed on a firmer foundation. This is a piece of history truly worth saving. So far, though, there’s only enough money available to stabilize the historic structure. Perhaps getting the mill to this point will be enough to motivate more people to contribute to the mill’s restoration.

There were once 117 grist mills on Prince Edward Island. Leard’s Grist Mill is one of only a very few that remain, our last chance to preserve this piece of P.E.I. faming history.