Letter to MLA's in CBRM and Premier of Nova Scotia....

Dr. Albert Maroun Follow Me

Posted this 2018-02-28 1:37 PM AST (updated 2018-03-15 11:34 AM ADT)

Letter to Cape Breton MLA’S from NSEF Good Afternoon: The NSEF (Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness) group in Sydney would like to update you on our progress regarding the future protests about the unfair practice of the distribution of Equalization funding in the province of Nova Scotia. The fact that Cape Breton Island holds 14% of the provinces population and receives only 0.77% of the funding provided by Ottawa is just no longer acceptable to this area. We are educating groups and organizations here on this island everyday about this crime against the people of Cape Breton. We have over 40,000 following us on social media today and we have several videos in production currently highlighting the differences between the two regions (CBRM & HRM). We have been in contact with the Prime Minister, Bill Morneau, The Public Service Integrity Commissioner as well as many lawyers about this issue. In the very near future, you will see thousands of people protesting in the streets of Sydney and Halifax. The way we are being treated by our provincial capital is a crime against the people and violates our Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Constitution Act of 1982. The people of Cape Breton will no longer be bullied by our provincial government and the planned decline of this area will stop. In our education process we are advising the people that change is needed in our local government and we need people who will fight for us. The MLA’s of this island have done nothing to protect our future and the fact that we receive $15 million per year instead of the $250 + million we are eligible to receive does not look good upon you. All correspondence between our group and government is now posted to social media and we have media kits available for news organizations with a copy of all letters written to date. Cape Bretoners are a kind and caring people and the provincial government has taken advantage of this over the years but no more. Towns are dissolving at record speed around this province and the actions of the provincial government will be exposed. The people of Nova Scotia’s outlying regions are very upset with the amount of funding being spent on resources in HRM. Thank you for reviewing this letter and we look forward to your comments on this matter. The Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness Group Sydney

Posted by Dr. Albert Maroun
Receive news by email and share your news and events for free on goCapeBreton.com
SHOW ME HOW

Like 11 Dislike 0

FOLLOW 16

6,383 24

Gov Political Commentary

24

Depth
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-02-28 2:51 PM AST Reply 3 0 Thank you Fred. We know what has happened in the past especially with John Morgans fight but our biggest mission is to educate the people of CBRM and Cape Breton. Most people we speak to are not aware of the amount of funds we are being shorted. We can not sit by and watch Halifax grow at such a fast pace with the use of the provinces money any further. 5 towns have dissolved recently and 5 more have just applied to dissolve. What a crime against the people of this province. It is a direct infringement against our Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as the Constitution of Canada. When people start to protest, and we will, maybe we will be heard. Martha Ross Follow Me 2018-03-02 11:25 PM AST Reply 2 0 Excellent Dr. Maroun.......Yes, we definitely know what happened when John Morgan tried his best to have this case dealt in the courts.......it was never dealt with, case was thrown out.......
Mary Brogan Follow Me 2018-02-28 5:38 PM AST Reply 3 0 Thank you. Keeping the people informed is a great start .
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-01 3:37 PM AST Reply 3 0 I find it hard to believe that not one of our local MLA's have replied to our email or even had a comment about it. This is the wall of silence we are talking about. Ottawa tells us to deal with this on a provincial level and yet the politicians on a provincial level completely ignore us. This has been a problem for 17 years now and it will take protesting to make the difference. This is very sad that the people we vote for will not even listen to us. We will remember this at election time and remind people how you have acted.
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-01 3:57 PM AST Reply 4 0 Following comment taken from the nsef.ca website For to many years this government(all stripes) here in Nova Scotia have kept us hostage when it comes to fairness for the equalization program. Our municipalities are dying (some have already),were forced to join with some other municipality because they were at death-door! Our group NSEF have contacted every level of government and it has fallen on deaf ears. There is absolutely no respect for Section 36 of the Constitution Act of 1982 from any of our provincial governments,passed or present here in Nova Scotia, this act was put in place to assist regions experiencing high unemployment and economic instability. Governments here in N.S. have talked the talk, when looking to be elected, but when elected they continued to snub you and ignore any talk around equalization. Well enough is enough, we the people need to act and take back our power, let us receive what is our entitlement to the equalization program is, no more sitting back. Charles Sampson Follow Me 2018-03-01 4:33 PM AST Reply 3 0 Politicians of all persuasions on the issue of Equalization have backed the controllers of the purse that wants HRM to be the focus of all government economic money. Continuing to re-elect politicians who have done absolutely nothing - not even mention the word equalization - when off this island. Yet, that is what has happened and it really shows our political system has suffered a terminal deficit in its basic claim of being democratic. It appears unless the citizens throw out every sitting politician the next election, the politicians will continue to rob this community of its constitutional benefit and its economic survival. Can anyone think of any other way this community can stop the economic decline? NSEF has its next public meeting on March 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the CEDARS CLUB, SYDNEY, off Townsend Street by Kays Kozy Korner restaurant. Come and bring a friend or two.
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-02 11:09 AM AST Reply 2 0 Posting from our website: I am appalled at the equalization numbers you are quoting! I'm sure they are accurate but is there a website where I can confirm them? Sadly, I am one of the lifelong Cape Bretoners who have sat back and not done anything about it! Same apathy as the majority. I only vote so I can have the right to complain when the politicians do nothing - which is 99% of the time! How can we get the young people (my husband and I are retired seniors) to start sharing their concerns (loudly) before they pack up and head for greener pastures with more opportunities? Every time we visit Halifax, I am saddened by the amount of growth and progress there while Cape Breton and the rest of rural NS is dying a slow death!!! Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-02 11:16 AM AST Reply 2 0 Above is a comment from someone on our website. We have provided the sender with the proof of our numbers, so I thought I would share them publicly for the readers. The links are below. https://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/mtp-eng.asp#NovaScotia https://novascotia.ca/dma/pdf/2016-Historical_Equalization_Comparison.pdf The above links will show what Ottawa sends to the Provincial Government in Halifax and what they send out to the towns and municipalities in the province. The numbers are sickening and people should be aware of this crime against the people of Nova Scotia's outlying communities. This is why every town is dying and Halifax is thriving. Time to stand up and demand to be heard on this issue. Martha Ross Follow Me 2018-03-02 11:46 PM AST Reply 1 0 Excellent information Dr. Maroun........ Cora MacNeil Follow Me 2018-03-28 7:46 PM ADT Reply 0 0 These are indeed some pretty fantastic numbers. Excellent job on this Albert, as usual. It's really hard to believe that there is so much Injustice in out province. I am still amazed at all the hard work you and the group have put in all these years. You are an inspiration to is all.
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-02 1:42 PM AST Reply 1 0 Finally, we are being heard on this issue. CBRM has called for an audit by the Nova Scotia Provincial Government. The link is below for anyone to read. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cape-breton-regional-council-macmullin-clarke-audit-1.4558031
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-02 3:19 PM AST Reply 2 0 As to Parker Donham's comments......The equalization transfer has nothing to do with health care what so ever. If you would like to educate yourself on the transfer from Ottawa to the province, I have included the 2 links below that shows the amounts. https://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/mtp-eng.asp#NovaScotia https://novascotia.ca/dma/pdf/2016-Historical_Equalization_Comparison.pdf If you would like to visit our web page (nsef.ca) and watch the videos posted on the bottom of the main page, you will learn by watching these videos what the Constitution Act of 1982 states. It says "Equalization will be provided to all Canadians who are burdened with over taxation".....That's us Parker. We pay way more property and commercial tax rates than HRM pays. The fact is, this group has been investigating and studying this situation for over 17 years....We think we know what we are talking about....do you? . Martha Ross Follow Me 2018-03-02 11:07 PM AST Reply 2 0 Many, many people have now caught on already to the injustice that has being going on for to many years concerning the equalization program. Once we are out there protesting everyone will know the truth about the unfairness of the transfers from the equalization program within the province of Nova Scotia. There is absolutely no excuse for those who are in politics, that haven't stepped up for the people in Nova Scotia concerning the equalization program.
S Green Follow Me 2018-03-04 2:42 PM AST Reply 3 0 I don't know how anyone who lives on this island could speak out against us getting our fair share of equalization. We are watching our island decline so much and Halifax flourish. As for Parker Donham's comments on the issue, I don't give him too much weight because when I approached him years ago about wearing a poppy, he refused and stated "I am an american". So much for Parker..... Martha Ross Follow Me 2018-03-04 4:52 PM AST Reply 2 0 Thank you S Green for your comments. Also you are very correct about Parker Donham's comments. He is only one person........the majority of people here in Cape Breton will be, if not already, well informed about the equalization unfairness of the program.......stay tuned...... Charles Sampson Follow Me 2018-03-04 5:32 PM AST Reply 2 0 Learn more about the manipulating of the federal Equalization by our provincial government and why our municipal taxes are much, much higher than that of the HRM. March 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the CEDARS CLUB, SYDNEY, COME TO A PUBLIC MEETING WITH NSEF. TURN OFF TOWNSEND ST. AT THE INTERSECTION NEXT TO KAY’S KOZY KORNER RESTAURENT. BRING OTHERS...
glen muise Follow Me 2018-03-06 6:08 PM AST Reply 3 0 I remember being sent documents from a group centered in Ottawa . This was during my protest candidacy in 1995 mayoralty contest.The group explained Agenda 21 and it stated should I win the contest they were available to guide the municipality towards sustainability via agenda 21 .if you study this agenda 21/30 you will see why we will not get equal share. In relation to disparity as it pertains to Cape Breton and Halifax it is plain to see that as soon as our industrial base was flattened we became dependant where one time in prosperity we would and did shake it off. regional Gov'ts regional Healthcare and Regional Education with no elected representatives. Everyone was paid off. We dumped NSPC and we sold wreck cove power right over our heads to Boston a cape breton sustainable jewel. This power plant belongs to Cape Breton. All part of downgrading our status to reconcile the books to then justify lower payments from equalization . Selling off prime real estate to cater to high income tourist while we watch from the sidelines. How is any of this helping those who need safe homes not high rent and no control. I have the total tonnages from all coal mines on cape breton since port morion to lingan and prince mines totalling in the billions of tons. I do not know the steel tonnage but suffice to say we got short changed by the Crown and the federal /provincial Gov't . We have no housing dept in CBRM when we need housing and jobs not a hypothetical container port without a railroad -insane. We must show how much we produced before going on welfare . Show Father Gregs Model from the Basques about creating small micro manufacturing units that had target markets . Micro to suit a micro bank .All this was explained before . There was a plan. Prove with numbers we can reach markets in europe its closer and yes then a container port not build it without a railway . keep up the fight right now info is important and we should not have to go to court to get our due. Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-07 2:36 PM AST Reply 1 0 Thanks Glen. Very insightful for sure. Your position on this matter is true. Back in the day, we had it going on here on this Island but we trusted the provincial capitol when we shouldn't have. Look what we are now compared to then. It is ok.because we have to start making governments accountable for their actions and then there will equality. CBRM needs to have more say in things but the problem is with our MLA's and MP's who have allowed this mess to snowball. The time has come for change as far a representation in government. We will get there now that we have a start. Thanks for the comments....
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-08 2:32 PM AST Reply 2 0 Thank you to everyone who attended our NSEF meeting on Tuesday night. We have grown to a couple hundred people attending instead of the 20 or so we normally get. It was great to see our numbers growing so quickly and we must keep going. It is time to unite and send a clear message to all our MLA's who are doing nothing to help this Island except cash their big pay checks. We must demand that they stand up and fight for our fair share of the equalization transfer. Cape Breton Island needs to be run by the people who live here and not by these politicians who speak for us. Obviously they are not doing their jobs presently and we must challenge each and everyone of them and remind them that they work for us. If we continue to vote these same people in year after year, we will never survive. Derek Mombourquette promised a member of our group that he would meet with us and he flat out lied to us. We have sent emails, letters and public statements to each MLA and we hear nothing back. Their silence on this serious issue must not continue. Stand up and deal with this problem or get out and let someone who will fight for us have a chance. It is your direct fault why this Island is in the financial shape it is in. How can you sit up there in Halifax and see the money that is being spent and come back to this Island and sleep? Shame on you......If you could of heard what people were standing up and saying about your lack of attention to this problem, you would have been quite embarrassed. People actually clapped and roared when some stated it is time to replace all MLA's in this area. I guess you will have nothing to say about this as well. Sad. Cora MacNeil Follow Me 2018-03-28 7:59 PM ADT Reply 0 0 Yes Albert. Fight we will!!! Very well said.
[comment deleted] Posted 2018-03-09 9:56 AM AST
Dr. Albert Maroun My Post Follow Me 2018-03-09 1:46 PM AST Reply 1 0 Here is a copy of our first of a series of videos being released by the NSEF. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqf8y1pNFsg
Charles Sampson Follow Me 2018-03-29 5:28 PM ADT Reply 0 0 Sent an email to Municipal Affairs Minister Derek Momberquette asking what the Feds provide for our municipal weakness related to our fiscal capacity that doesn’t enable the municipal units to raise sufficient revenues to provide reasonably comparable public services at reasonably comparable tax rates. No reply. Joe Ward Follow Me 2018-03-29 8:22 PM ADT Reply 0 0 One excellent question for Minister Mombourquette, to have answered on the record, would simply be: Do you think the CBRM is receiving its fair share of Equalization, municipal transfer, or equivalent investment - or not? Why, or why not? Charles Sampson Follow Me 2018-03-29 9:13 PM ADT Reply 0 0 Silence has worked for them for so long, he would slip that question and simply talk about an unrelated issue. Even recently in council, Paruch pointy asked him on Equalization, he squirmed but would not be drawn in to the topic.