ILA Endorses Rankin MacSween for Mayor and Port Vision [video]

goCapeBreton.com Team Follow Me

Posted this 2016-09-14 3:49 PM ADT (updated 2016-09-20 1:08 PM ADT)

On September 14, 2016 a press conference was held at the Holiday Inn in Sydney, NS by Rankin MacSween and the International Longshoreman's Assocation (ILA) to discuss future development of the Port of Sydney and the CBRM Mayoralty race. The ILA, reportedly, controls 99% of container traffic on the east coast of North America.

The ILA said that their interest in the Port of Sydney is to make sure that jobs are created for local people. And, they officially announced their endorsement for Rankin MacSween as Mayor of CBRM, stating that they feel that he has consistently demonstrated the same objective in their many years of working with him.

The ILA made a point of saying that they don't usually get involved in small town, big city, or national politics, but felt compelled to offer their endorsement because they care about the longshoremen in Cape Breton and the community and that "going back to 2008, Mr. MacSween was fully on board with taking care of the the community and he wasn't worried about the corporate interests as much as he is about the people of Cape Breton, and that's why we are here."

You can watch the full VIDEO below:

A list of highlights with photos is included here ...

Michael Vigneron, President, Atlantic Coast District of the ILA, endorses MacSween for Mayor because of his commitment to the community - 03:10

James Paylor, Assistant Organizer for the ILA, says that the the ILA is supporting MacSween's candidacy because of his dedication and integrity. Paylor added, "Protecting the interests of the working class is what we are doing here. [There's a] major contrast between the existing group that's in place now, versus a new and refreshing way of thinking. Commitment and dedication are the key components that make the initiative real, and that's the creation of jobs for an area that is in desperate need of those jobs. Rankin hasn't thrown things out to the public for the purpose of making him look good politically. He's taken a very positive business-like approach." - 05:20

Paylor talks about current CBRM Mayor and Council vision a fully-automated port facility. Fully-automated means no local jobs after construction phase. ILA does not support the fully-automated proposal. Robots don't buy pizza. - 08:00

MacSween says that the current administration has been careless in it's business dealings, and shut the community out of the process - 15:00

MacSween raises concerns about questionable deals. CBRM pays $1.2M for land that was not appraised. Company leasing the land pays no taxes. HPDP gets control of port development project for 2 years for a payment of $1. HPDP is not registered to do business in Nova Scotia. - 16:40

MacSween says that ILA's participation is needed for future port development as they control 99% of the container traffic on the east coast. Yet the CBRM Mayor and Council has refused to meet with them. If elected, MacSween will not renew HPDP contract, and any new development process will be competitive and transparent. - 22:50

Read the Full History in our COMMUNITY REPORT:

Port of Sydney - Serious Questions & Observations (Full History)

Pictures and Documents

ILA Letter 9-16.pdf 651 KB

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The International Longshoremens' Association has provided an official letter endorsing Rankin MacSween for Mayor of CBRM

Depth
Debbie Keating Follow Me 2016-09-14 7:30 PM ADT Reply 3 0 This article needs to be read and shared by every voter in this municipality. Please SHARE!!!! Lorraine Paulin Follow Me 2016-09-25 9:59 AM ADT Reply 0 0 I agree, this needs to be shared. Most Voters don't know the true Cecil.
[comment deleted] Posted 2016-09-14 8:32 PM ADT
Michael MacNeil Follow Me 2016-09-14 8:42 PM ADT Reply 0 0 I agree Debbie
Jason Morrison Follow Me 2016-09-15 4:17 PM ADT Reply 0 0 I am not disagreeing with Rankin or the ILA but as far as my understanding of the port project it was to be a semi automated port not fully automated. This was one of the ways to make it viable for the area and to attract interest in the project, mind you it also increased the build cost to more then double Melford. The port would still employ local people and attract other spin off jobs to the area but the port itself will be run with fewer employees over a conventional port. If a semi automated or automated port is the only way to make it work I would rather see the port happen with fewer employees then not happen at all. Mathew Georghiou Follow Me 2016-09-15 4:41 PM ADT Reply 0 0 From the video it seems the ILA is saying that the original concept was for it to be a semi-automated port so that it would strike the right balance between cost savings and job creation. But, at some point along the way, the "current administration" (using their term) changed the plan to be a fully-automated port, which ILA suggests will not create and maintain jobs. So, they are speaking out against this and endorsing MacSween who supports the semi-automated port (plus other reasons stated in the video). While I don't know anything about automated and semi-automated ports, it seems to make sense that we would want a port that creates jobs, while maintaining cost efficiency. If it's not going to create and maintain a lot of jobs, then it's probably not worth doing given the disruption a port would have on the city. That disruption may be worth it if it significantly improves the quality of life for citizens, but not if it doesn't. Jason Morrison Follow Me 2016-09-15 5:33 PM ADT Reply 0 0 Thanks for clarifying Mathew, but even if a fully automated port is built I think it would still benefit the area as there would still be spin off jobs associated with the port (trucking, rail, management, service and maintenance jobs). There would also be increased tax revenues for the municipality. Being on the opposite side on the harbour I don't think it would disrupt the city too much and any new jobs in the area will help to stabilize and hopefully reverse the out migration in the area. I would love to see this port built, I would prefer traditional over semi automated or automated but any port activity I feel would benefit the area. Mathew Georghiou Follow Me 2016-09-15 9:19 PM ADT Reply 0 0 I think where I might see this differently Jason is that if the Port is not going to be a significant and direct contributor of wealth to the people (as opposed to relying more on spinoffs), then I question the return on investment and risk balance. There are SO many other things we could invest in that are lower risk and actually have a higher potential upside than the Port, while causing much less disruption to the community. If we had invested in those things back when this Port thing all started, I believe the outmigration would have been stopped and reversed by now.
Lorraine Paulin Follow Me 2016-09-25 9:57 AM ADT Reply 1 0 Finally, maybe Rankin can fix things. Let's get Cecil out and vote Rankin in.

Depth

Debbie Keating Follow Me 2016-09-14 7:30 PM ADT

Reply 3 0

This article needs to be read and shared by every voter in this municipality. Please SHARE!!!!

Lorraine Paulin Follow Me 2016-09-25 9:59 AM ADT

Reply 0 0

I agree, this needs to be shared. Most Voters don't know the true Cecil.

[comment deleted] Posted 2016-09-14 8:32 PM ADT

Michael MacNeil Follow Me 2016-09-14 8:42 PM ADT

Reply 0 0

I agree Debbie

Jason Morrison Follow Me 2016-09-15 4:17 PM ADT

Reply 0 0

I am not disagreeing with Rankin or the ILA but as far as my understanding of the port project it was to be a semi automated port not fully automated. This was one of the ways to make it viable for the area and to attract interest in the project, mind you it also increased the build cost to more then double Melford. The port would still employ local people and attract other spin off jobs to the area but the port itself will be run with fewer employees over a conventional port. If a semi automated or automated port is the only way to make it work I would rather see the port happen with fewer employees then not happen at all.

Mathew Georghiou Follow Me 2016-09-15 4:41 PM ADT

Reply 0 0

From the video it seems the ILA is saying that the original concept was for it to be a semi-automated port so that it would strike the right balance between cost savings and job creation. But, at some point along the way, the "current administration" (using their term) changed the plan to be a fully-automated port, which ILA suggests will not create and maintain jobs. So, they are speaking out against this and endorsing MacSween who supports the semi-automated port (plus other reasons stated in the video). While I don't know anything about automated and semi-automated ports, it seems to make sense that we would want a port that creates jobs, while maintaining cost efficiency. If it's not going to create and maintain a lot of jobs, then it's probably not worth doing given the disruption a port would have on the city. That disruption may be worth it if it significantly improves the quality of life for citizens, but not if it doesn't.

Jason Morrison Follow Me 2016-09-15 5:33 PM ADT

Reply 0 0

Thanks for clarifying Mathew, but even if a fully automated port is built I think it would still benefit the area as there would still be spin off jobs associated with the port (trucking, rail, management, service and maintenance jobs). There would also be increased tax revenues for the municipality. Being on the opposite side on the harbour I don't think it would disrupt the city too much and any new jobs in the area will help to stabilize and hopefully reverse the out migration in the area. I would love to see this port built, I would prefer traditional over semi automated or automated but any port activity I feel would benefit the area.

Mathew Georghiou Follow Me 2016-09-15 9:19 PM ADT

Reply 0 0

I think where I might see this differently Jason is that if the Port is not going to be a significant and direct contributor of wealth to the people (as opposed to relying more on spinoffs), then I question the return on investment and risk balance. There are SO many other things we could invest in that are lower risk and actually have a higher potential upside than the Port, while causing much less disruption to the community. If we had invested in those things back when this Port thing all started, I believe the outmigration would have been stopped and reversed by now.

Lorraine Paulin Follow Me 2016-09-25 9:57 AM ADT

Reply 1 0

Finally, maybe Rankin can fix things. Let's get Cecil out and vote Rankin in.

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ILA Endorses Rankin MacSween for Mayor and Port Vision [video]

Pictures and Documents

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