The following letter was also published today by Jeff McNeil. Jeff is responding as well to the recent David Delaney Op Ed about equalization. Many in the government peg him as a redneck due to his outdoorsy passions. But just like with the government, not many realize that he can sling words with the best of ‘em when the situation calls for it. Here is Jeff’s awesome letter: EQUALIZATION FAIRNESS COMMENTARY DRAWS RESPONSE 7 Jun 2024 Re: ‘Time to bury the (equalization fairness) ight in CBRM,’ Cape Breton Post commentary by David Delaney, June 4. Ah, David Delaney, the self-appointed oracle of Albert Bridge, waxing poetic about the equalization issue as if he's discovered the philosopher's stone of municipal finance. It’s quite rich to hear him dismiss the equalization fairness fight as a “lost cause” while basking in the comfort of his detached viewpoint. Delaney suggests our Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) politicians are mere performers, flip-flopping for votes. Yet, he conveniently sidesteps the fact that it's our communities, not the gilded towers of downtown Halifax, that generate the very equalization transfers sustaining this province. His call for “realistic policy choices” sounds delightful until one realizes it's a thinly veiled endorsement of maintaining the status quo, benefiting those with hefty downtown investments – his real audience, perhaps? His “better alternative” – a tax-neutral rearrangement– is an exercise in idealistic naiveté. Suggesting that municipalities simply engage in a Herculean legislative overhaul as if it's a stroll in the park ignores the intricate realities of federal-provincial relations. Meanwhile, we in the CBRM will continue to demand our fair share of resources, grounded in the reality that our needs and contributions are far from imaginary. So, Mr. Delaney, while you propose to "put the ball rolling" with theoretical frameworks, we'll be here dealing with the tangible impacts of fiscal imbalance and pushing for real change, not just rhetorical posturing. When you're ready to discuss these issues in a public forum, we'll see who’s really afraid of facing the flame. Jeff McNeil Scotchtown