I am beyond sick and tired of the misguided notion that Cape Bretoners are “whiners, welfare recipients and a drain on the Province.

Fact: The Provincial Government uses the economic disparity in Cape Breton and rural Nova Scotia to garner as much of the Equalization transfer as possible.

Fact: The intended purpose of this transfer is to alleviate economic disparity in these communities (Cape Breton and rural Nova Scotia)

Fact: 26% of this 1.94 billion (Aprox. $500 million) is provided for the economic disparity among these communities.

Fact: The province distributes only $30.5 million.

Fact: HRM is entitled to 0% of this equalization transfer.

Fact: You cannot severely underfund all these communities for 20 years and expect that we will somehow thrive and prosper.

It has become abundantly clear that our continued poverty maintains the current “have-not” status of our province.

I am NOT whining. I am NOT looking for a hand out. I am NOT on welfare. I AM a hard working, overly taxed Cape Bretoner who would like the opportunity to live and work outside of the “Almighty HRM” and have a comparable standard of living, taxation, infrastructure, etc. I have no desire to follow Bridgetown, Canso, Parrsboro or Springhill into dissolution.

It is long past time that ALL Nova Scotians got informed and educated on the spending habits and LACK of distribution of the provincial monies. I would like to dispel the MYTH that Cape Breton is somehow a “Drain” on provincial money when, in actual fact, Cape Breton brings in 29% ($3.29 billion) on the total budget!

I AM OUTRAGED!!!!!!

I am ashamed of my fellow Nova Scotians who think so poorly of us. We did not generate this fiscal disparity but have been forced to endure it for more than 20 years. If you want to understand how we, in Cape Breton feel, I will paint you a picture.

PRETEND Sydney is the Capital of Nova Scotia. All federal transfers for the provinces yearly budget come to Sydney. We will misappropriate as much money as we want and build Cape Breton up to “Shangri-La 2.0” while severely underfunding mainland Nova Scotia. We will control your hospitals, your schools, taxes, infrastructure, social services, administration, EVERYTHING!!! We will grow and prosper at an accelerated rate while the rest of the province declines and slowly, oh so slowly, bleeds to death. Towns dissolve and 1000 people a year leave the mainland. As you plead with us to treat you fairly and equally, we will then accuse you of being whiners and welfare recipients, of always looking for a handout, being lazy, miss managers, authors of your own doom. Although this picture in just PRETEND for the HRM, it is REALITY for the residents of Cape Breton and rural Nova Scotia.

It has become increasingly difficult, almost impossible in fact, to want to be part of a province that views us and our First Nations Neighbors with such contempt, who speak out against us with a litany of derogatory commentary and underfunds us to poverty. If you look closely, you will see the truth of the situation is this, the HRM PROSPERS from Cape Breaton’s poverty by the BILLIONS.

As Senator Dan Christmas stated, “it is time to start the conversation” for independence and self governance separate from the province. Although the mainland Nova Scotia might think that sounds great, the provincial government will fight against it. They have a 20 year addiction to our money, usurping it, using it however they want and answering to nobody. It wouldn’t take long for Nova Scotians to come to the realization that Cape Breton wasn’t the problem after all. All we ever wanted was to be treated EQUALLY and FAIRLY. Instead we have received ridicule and scorn for trying to stand up for ourselves.

I am ashamed of our politicians who, for 20 years, have refused to stand up and represent their voters. This issue should have been rectified a long time ago. In any other capacity these politicians would have been fired for not doing what they are paid to do. Instead, they will get a pension, a pat on the head and a job well done.

WHAT A PILE OF CRAP!!

Brenda Matheson
Sydney