Cape Breton Post - Jan 15th, 2010
The interim chair of the Cape Breton Island Provincehood Campaign, Kevin MacDonald, has asked me to resume my leadership role with the organization. I have accepted.
The Province of Cape Breton Island was established in 1784 by an executive decision of King George III and the Privy Council.
The Privy Council formally proposed on May 10, 1784, that Cape Breton have its own executive authority and held much discussion leading up to its final order-in-council of June 18, 1784.
To date, this order-in-council has never been repealed.
What this order actually did was approve a report from the board of trade on the form and cost of the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton.
June 18 should be celebrated as Cape Breton natal day and the four municipalities of Victoria, Richmond, Inverness and Cape Breton County should form a quad-county commission to re-establish the island as a separate administrative district within Nova Scotia.
By the king’s grant and with our own seal so bestowed, Cape Breton has a royal right which supersedes Confederation to directly administer all its own tax affairs (akin to an independent district within Nova Scotia).
Premier Darrell Dexter favours decentralization, and devolution’s path is worthy of pursuit.
Mark Macneill
Big Pond

Editor,

The proposed PEI/CBI ferry service represents a key means of giving tourists, trade & travelers alternative choice of routes for planning their trip with minimized commuting costs and environmental footprint.

The ferry service can be established with a Transport Canada Public/Private operating contract & start-up costs to construct piers, ramps, access, etc. can be funded by Transport Canada’s 7 year, $33 billion Communities Infrastructure program, created to provide vital transport links for large & small communities across Canada.

Tax dollars funded the St. Lawrence Seaway construction & icebreakers are funded annually to support trade shipments to Quebec & Ontario - bypassing the ports & markets of Atlantic Canada. Taxpayers are also funding highway expansions and rail lines across Canada, & as taxpayers we also subsidize railing western wheat to an isolated arctic port. So to seek a vital ferry link from CBI to PEI so travelers, trade and commerce can save on gas, emissions and time – as well as providing opportunities for economic linkages between two sister islands & strategically making the Atlantic region more competitive & sustainable is a very reasonable goal.

If neither Cape Breton Canso Liberal MP Roger Cuzner, nor fellow federal candidates Allan Murphy (Tory) or Dwayne MacEachern (Green) are prepared to fight for this project on behalf of our island & region, then I am considering seeking the NDP nomination for the next federal election to offer my support.

A stronger Cape Breton, a fairer Cape Breton, a greener Cape Breton!

Mark Macneill
RR4 Mabou, Cape Breton Island
B0E1X0

The Daily News, July 16, 2007:

To the editor,

Given the short shrift Nova Scotia is presently receiving from the federal government, we do not believe Cape Breton Island would be seen as any less significant than it already is within our marginalized political existence at both the provincial and federal levels. We expect the Province of CBI would respond to the federal government reneging on the Atlantic Accord, in step with Premier Danny Williams of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Stephen Harper has strongly advocated renegotiating our federal constitution at several levels including senate reform, and I believe that one element crucial to our region within the next round of constitutional talks should be the constitutional emancipation of our offshore resources. Canada has eight coastal provinces, and there would be much vested interest at the provincial level within a clear majority of Canada’s provinces to decentralize control of our offshore resources. The current resource structure within our constitution has allowed Alberta on a comparative basis to set oil/gas exploration and development guidelines that emphasize a “use it or lose it” policy. Whereas in contrast with the resources off the shores of Cape Breton Island, Newfoundland and Nova Scotia the terms of the leases are much longer in duration.

If the Constitution is to be renegotiated it is critical for the future development of all of Atlantic Canada and not just Cape Breton Island that the power over our offshore resources should be devolved from the federal government to the provinces.

Mark MacNeill Chair,

CBI Provincehood Campaign www.provinceofcapebreton.com

The Daily News, June 13, 2007:

To the editor:

There is a need for a fast-ferry service from Halifax to Cape Breton Island. It could run from Historic Properties in Halifax to the town and fortress of Louisbourg, with shuttles from there to all of CBI, and access to the Newfoundland ferry. This would be ideal for tourists with limited vacation time, and a real gas, time and expense saver for all as an alternative to driving from Halifax to CBI and back.

Or, the ferry could be located in Eastern Passage, with a shuttle for air travelers from the Halifax airport. Passengers could then be sped via the fast ferry to CBI destinations for further sites, services and venues.

Now we hear the province is considering setting up a fast ferry in Halifax Harbor, costing $30 million. We fear the plan is to service Halifax only, with tourist stays from the United States lasting only two or three days. It’s clear all the money is flowing into HRM, at the expense of CBI.

Mark Macneill
Chair, CBI Provincehood Campaign

Inverness Oran, June 5, 2007 (Pictou):

To the Editor,

CBI Provincehood Campaign has developed a petition to parliament for a Northumberland Strait ferry service between Souris, P.E.I. and Port Hood, C.B.I… (See below) Signatures will be collected from both P.E.I. and C.B.I. in support of this initiative and will be presented respectively to MPs Lawrence MacAulay (Cardigan), and Roger Cuzner (Cape Breton-Canso).

The CBI Provincehood Campaign also has a standing petition in possession by MPs Roger Cuzner and Mark Eyking (Sydney-Victoria) that was presented to both MPs between January 23rd and February 9th, 2007.which seeks independent provincial recognition by Parliament for CBI. Whilst the petition was not submitted during the most recent parliamentary session Mr. Eyking and Mr. Cuzner have indicated they are considering presenting the petition in the Fall 2007 session of parliament. (See www.provinceofcapebreton.org)

A poll provided for the Campaign indicates that the level of support for provincehood on Cape Breton Island is equivalent to that of support for Quebec independence during its first referendum in 1982, and a recent Cape Breton Post readership poll indicates 65% support for the Cape Breton Island independence movement.

Mark Macneill
Chair, CBI Provincehood Campaign

The Daily News (Halifax) - 27/05/2007:

To the editor:

The Cape Breton Island Provincehood Campaign supports Action democratique du Quebec Leader Mario Dumont’s call for Ottawa to reopen the Canadian Constitution for debate with respect to Ottawa’s spending power. We invite Canada to hold the next round of Constitutional talks on our island. Cape Breton Island is the former colony of Ile Royale, France, and renamed by England in 1763, prior to annexation to Nova Scotia in 1820. It is one of the scenic wonders of the world and abounds with a rich diversity of culture, languages and hospitality. The island is also only a short distance from Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Hosting constitutional negotiations on our island would be rich in symbolism of renewal for a new Canadian nation - akin to the Charlottetown Accord of 1992 and the Charlottetown Conference of 1867, which led to the British North Act that created Canada. Cape Breton Island seeks constitutional recognition as Canada’s 11th Province and I request that Parliament pass a motion designating Cape Breton Island to host a Canadian constitutional conference to re-examine the balance of powers, trade and resources within our nation.

Mark MacNeill Chairman CBI Provincehood Campaign

The News (Serving Pictou County), 25/05/2007:

To the editor,

Under the 1763 Treaty of Paris, Cape Breton Island which was then a separate French colony known as Ile Royale, with its capital in Louisbourg, was ceded to the British colony of Nova Scotia and given one magistrate to represent the entire island. No one living in Cape Breton at that time could own land and they were required to pay taxes and serve in the militia. Indeed, it was “taxation without representation.”

The Seal of Cape Breton Island came from King George III. In 1784, George III granted Cape Breton separate status, with a Lieutenant-Governor, Executive Council, and a House of Assembly. With a substantial increase in the population of the island as Scots and others emigrated, the population called for the House of Assembly, in order to begin raising money from taxes to support island infrastructure for new roads and bridges. The House of Assembly however was, in fact, never called.

Facing the possibility of the loss of tax income and the rights to Cape Breton coal, the British Colonial Office considered their options and decided that the island’s House should be part of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. And so, on October 9, 1820, the island was annexed to Nova Scotia by Britain.

Nine petitions were sent to the British government, based on the argument that once a House of Assembly is given in constitutional law, it cannot be removed. Petitioners argued that the King simply did not have the right to annex Cape Breton to Nova Scotia.
The first 25 years following union with Nova Scotia saw consistent separatist petitions, meetings, travels to England, legal wrangling, and election debates. By 1845, the British government threatened to send war ships into Sydney Harbour to quell the unrest. The following year, 1846, the Privy Council of Britain met to discuss the issue of Cape Breton separatism; no minutes were kept, and the decision was made that despite constitutional improprieties the annexation would stand.

Mark Macneill
Chair, CBI Provincehood Campaign
www.provinceofcapebreton.org

Sources: Beaton Institute notes and Dr. Bob Morgan, Early Cape Breton, From Founding to Famine, 1784 - 1851, Breton Books, 2000.

The Daily News (Halifax) - 05/05/2007:

I am a graduate of Riverview Rural High School, Class of ‘78, and have wonderful memories of my years there. It saddens me to read in the Cape Breton Post that RRHS and Sydney Academy renovations have been placed on hold in the midst of construction and great visible hope.

Both these high schools have produced graduates who have gone on to lead our communities, province and country, and to assume roles around the world.

Abandoning construction mid-flight is utterly disgraceful.

If the province had several hundred million for the Commonwealth Games in Halifax, then with cancellation of the games bid the province must have considerably more room within its budgetary capacity.

I suggest our premier should set an honourable and responsible example by giving these two very worthy high schools the funds they require to complete their modest renovations.

I reiterate that Cape Breton requires its own independent provincial governance. I encourage Cape Bretoners to write their representatives, local press and friends on the mainland to advise that Cape Breton now wishes to govern its own affairs as a province.

Mark Macneill
Chair, CBI Provincehood Campaign

The Halifax Daily News, May 2, 2007:

To the editor:

The provincial government is insensitive to the cumulative effect 13 or more proposed strip mines will have on Cape Breton Island’s eco-system and human communities.

By taking a “big-picture” view of Cape Breton’s ecosystems at the community level, there is an obvious concern for potential ground water deterioration, wildlife habitat loss and sedimentary impact on neighbouring streams, which are the most visible and direct effects of strip mining.

The cumulative effects of strip mining often are not as obvious. One example is the Point Aconi open-pit operation’s effect on Bras d’Or Lake.

Mark Macneill
Chair, CBI Provincehood Campaign

The Evening News, New Glasgow, April 23rd, 2007:

To the editor:

The Cape Breton Island Provincehood Campaign supports the Democratic Action Party of Quebec, Opposition Leader Mario Dumont’s call for Ottawa to re-open the Canadian Constitution for debate with respect to Ottawa’s spending power and we invite Canada to hold the next round of Constitutional negotiations on our Island.

Cape Breton Island is the former colony of Ile Royale, France and later re-named by England in 1763 prior to annexation to Nova Scotia in 1820, and is one of the most scenic wonders of the world and abounds with a rich diversity of culture, languages and hospitality. The Island is also only a short distance from Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland.

Hosting constitutional negotiations on our Island would be rich in symbolism of renewal for a new Canadian Nation, akin to the Charlottetown Accord of 1992 and the Charlottetown Conference of 1867 which led to the BNA Act that created Canada.

Cape Breton Island seeks constitutional recognition as Canada’s 11th Province and I request that Parliament pass a motion designating Cape Breton Island to host a Canadian Constitutional Conference to re-examine the balance of powers, trade and resources within our nation.

Mark MacNeill
Chairperson, CBI Provincehood Campaign