The following email was sent to Cape Breton’s two Liberal MLA’s (Derek Mombourquette and Fred Tilley) along with the party leader, Zach Churchill. With the election just around the corner, we will be sending the same request to all party’s and their MLAs to speak about their intentions with regards to equalization fairness. We saw recently what the intention was with the PC Party of Nova Scotia with the negotiations of Bill 340. It is time our elected representatives tell us and the public their intentions with regards to our constitution, section 36 (equalization) and our tax rates. WE will advise you when and if we receive a response….. Here is the email sent today: Dear Zach Churchill, Derek Mombourquette and Fred Tilley: It was nice to speak with you Derek yesterday and it is the reason I reach out to the three of you with this correspondence. Zach Churchill and I recently made a family connection (the Sapp Family) going back to Lebanon many years ago and we are distantly related. I, and many NSEF members, were also impressed with Fred, Derek, and Zach during the negotiations of bill 340 and we thank you all for trying to make the Houston Government understand the special circumstances we face in the CBRM. I believe between the three of you it was over 5 hours of discussion and that did not even include Kendra Coombes efforts as well. I did feel that Derek explained to me yesterday why this did not happen under the previous Liberal leader, Stephen MacNeil. So, gentlemen, the reason for this letter today is to arrange a meeting next time Zach is in town with myself and a few of our board members. I feel that the timing is right to investigate an opportunity for all involved. This opportunity is not just with the CBRM or Cape Breton but also with all rural Nova Scotia. We feel that the focus has been on the growth of Halifax for far too long and we do understand that it is important for the capital region to grow and prosper, we also feel that it is coming at the expense of the rest of the province, especially the struggling municipalities like the CBRM. We would like to discuss with you three gentlemen, the one category that is generated by the municipal deficiency in Tax Capacity related to Property (tax) and Misc. Revenues. We feel that if this one category alone was partially or entirely distributed to the municipalities and communities that generate this portion of the equalization transfer, rural Nova Scotia would become strong while strengthening the entire province's economy. I and the NSEF volunteers will have no problem reaching out to the other regions in Nova Scotia with this information and the numbers and breakdowns are already calculated by the NSEF based entirely upon the government’s own data (Provincially and Federally) which we can all discuss at our meeting. This is an opportunity to ensure fairness for the entire province while building up the rural areas to the point of self-sufficiency that will strengthen the province of Nova Scotia’s economy from Yarmouth to Glace Bay. I thank you for taking the time to read and review this email and I will personally ensure this meeting will be productive and respectful 100%. As per our policy, we can not meet with elected officials as a board unless the meeting is recorded. This policy is in place because of prior politicians' promises that are forgotten about once they are elected. We have many examples of this practice over our 30 years of advocacy. We hope you will take the opportunity to openly discuss this issue with complete transparency and accountability for all Nova Scotians. The ultimate reason to have this recording is to protect all sides in the conversation. I look forward to hearing back from you soon with your thoughts on this important meeting. Regards. Rev. DR. Albert Maroun on behalf of The Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness