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

The Cape Breton Post, June 8, 2007:

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality rehearsed its litany of grievances this week before a Senate committee that found the case interesting if not persuasive. Mayor John Morgan, chief administrative officer Jerry Ryan and economic development manager John Whalley appeared before the national finance committee which is studying so-called vertical fiscal balance among orders of government in Canada.

Morgan and Whalley did all the talking, outlining the case that CBRM’s comparatively high taxes and low service expenditures are the result of the provincial government’s failure to follow through on the constitutional intent behind the federal equalization program. It is “provincial government policy that causes our residents to have dramatically lower service levels while at the same time higher tax rates within the municipal jurisdiction,” Morgan told the senators.

He argued that the principle of equalization as stated in Section 36 of the Constitution obliges both the federal government and a recipient province to track where the money goes so as to ensure that it is being used to reduce disparities. “What is happening in Nova Scotia is the funding is overwhelmingly being forwarded not to the poorest areas of the province but to the wealthiest,” Morgan contended.

It fell to Sen. Lowell Murray, the New Waterford native who retained his Progressive Conservative label after the merger that created the federal Conservative Party, to explain that persuading Ottawa to engage in such monitoring within a province is a political non-starter. “Once the cheque is sent to the provincial capital,” he said, “the federal government does not look behind it. I do not think you would ever find any federal government that would take such a look.”

Murray, the committee member who showed the most interest in the presentation, was more intrigued by arguments that the federal government is neglecting in its constitutional obligation directly by failing to focus its own economic development efforts in the areas most in need of them. He was especially taken with CBRM’s comparisons between itself (pop. 102,000) and Prince Edward Island (pop. 135,000). Total federal development spending in P.E.I. through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency in the last fiscal year was $42 million, versus $19 million in CBRM (including Enterprise Cape Breton Corp.), Whalley said.

Murray noted that the CBRM-P.E.I. argument could not be properly analyzed at one brief sitting of the committee.

Murray, along with Manitoba Tory Senator Terry Stratton, mused about whether some deficiency within the region itself — some lack of private sector initiative, perhaps — could be part of CBRM’s problem. Morgan and Whalley would have none of it. “This is not about individual effort,” said Whalley. “This is about a system of policies and structures that has tilted the whole field.”

Nothing was resolved, of course, but it was a real discussion, free of hysteria and partisan bickering — the sort of discussion of the CBRM complaint that we almost never hear. It’s a pity it had to happen in such an obscure forum so far away. We’ll leave to the bean-counting councillors and letter-writers to tell us now whether the trip was worth it.

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

Charlottetown Guardian, April 13, 2007:

To The Editor:

It’s amusing to read where Elizabeth May’s organizers from the riding of Cape Breton Canso have been sending around an e-mail invitation for a free bus ride sponsored by the Green Party’s national office to transport people from the riding of Cape Breton Canso to May’s nomination meeting for the neighbouring riding of Central Nova.

The free bus ride also provides a free Mary Jane Lamond concert at the conclusion of the meeting. To me this is old-style politics at its very best and I expected more from the self-proclaimed altruistic Green Party of Canada. Are the Greens also offering free booze tickets?

To test May’s policy zeal on green issues I ask Elizabeth May if she is prepared to support and promote a ferry service from Souris, P.E.I., to Port Hood, Cape Breton, Island as an energy-efficient alternative to either replace or complement the Pictou to Wood Islands ferry located in the Central Nova riding.

This service would eliminate the redundant auto tourist traffic from Pictou to the causeway, reduce excess CO2 emissions and reduce the travel time and expenses that occur when travellers from outside the region are destined for Cape Breton and Newfoundland via P.E.I.

Mark MacNeill, Chairperson
Cape Breton Island Provincehood Campaign