I have always been drawn to the shores of the Bras d'Or Lake. 

My father and uncle would tell us stories about it when we were children, like how a long-ago cousin would walk across the lake in the dead of winter, from Iona, to come to visit her family in Big Pond, and how she perished in a snow storm while on her way one sad day. 

We would scramble down the steep bank that led to the Black Rocks that Rita MacNeil sang about and lay on the flat part of the rocks, feeling their warmth before swimming, shrieking at the cold - every time - before getting ducked. 

I have a vivid memory of skating on the lake as a child, of how my blades would make white marks on the perfect ice, and how I would constantly ask "How deep is it now?" as I struggled along. 

And I am grateful to have grown up in Big Pond on the shores of this alluring lake.

I have a big question.

A big question that I want answered. 

When a development is proposed for the shores of the Bras d'Or Lake, who is responsible for figuring out whether it will bring future harm to the lake, its coastline and its watershed?

You'd think that you could call a government agency, ask this big question, and get a answer. 

But, I have not been able to thus far. 

The problem seems to be that is the CBRM Council and its planning department that have the power to say something like, this development is too dense and too large to sit on a vulnerable coastline, but they say, and maybe even believe, that they don't.

But they do.

Seriously.

No one else does. 

I think that it is crucial to the health of the environment of Bras d'Or Lake  that the CBRM Council and its planning department understand that there is no one else looking at whether the scale or density of a development threatens the lake and its ecosystem - because they are supposed to be doing that work. 

I will send this letter to all Councillors and ask that the Councillor for my district ask this big question that needs an answer at the next meeting of the CBRM Council. 

Why? Because we are fortunate to have this magnificent lake that captivates us and visitors from far-flung places and we should know who is looking out for it. So that we can help them do just that. 

The UARB will resume a narrow review of the CBRM Council's narrow decision to allow a large-scale RV park on the shores of one of the lakes most vulnerable coastines - sadly, they are not looking at whether the Council should have considered the environment in their decision, as that is a question beyond their purvue.

All are welcome to attend the hearing, and learn more about how CBRM makes big decisions like this - here is the announcement.