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EDITORIAL: Vicious cycle

For every story that makes the front page or the start of the newscast, there were many that didn't. Think about that every time you see the walking-talking disaster that is Rob Ford dominating the news cycle.

For every story that makes the front page or the start of the newscast, there were many that didn't. Think about that every time you see the walking-talking disaster that is Rob Ford dominating the news cycle. It's true that Canada's largest city and the economic hub of Canada deserves to know about the activities and state-ofmind of its chief magistrate. And there has thus far been a massive gulf of accountability Ford owes Torontonians. These are newsworthy events with a genuine public interest.

Unfortunately, lost in the latest foofaraw about the mayor, his crack pipe and his racist and sexist comments were some important stories.

As we were having a laugh or tsktsking the latest episode, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, CBC and the Canadian Press reported the RCMP

is now looking into as many as 1,200 cases of missing or murdered aboriginal women - possibly twice the amount last assumed.

The federal government has routinely rejected calls to hold an inquiry into how those numbers could ever climb so high.

When pressed by the Opposition in the House of Commons, the Tories spun the crisis into a pitch to support their budget, which contains a $25-million strategy for aboriginal missing and murdered women - but offered no interest in a public inquiry, which would bring closure and shed light on past wrongs to ensure they don't happen again.

If a proportionate number of upper-middle class blond girls were murdered or went missing, there wouldn't be an inquiry. There would be martial law.