We moved to Cape Breton Island in 1965. Two years later we were marching with the Police Boys and Girls Club and 20,000 other Capers to save our major export industries (Coal and Steel). We survived that period through 1989 when the Government of Canada invested $250,000,000 into Sydney Steel Corporation. This modernization was finally completed in 1992, and potentially positioned us with a world class facility and reputation to export finished steel products globally.
Just 7 short years later, Dr. John Hamm (and Cecil Clark) ran on a campaign to close this industry and turn their back on this massive “once in a lifetime investment” which they did. We as a people have paid a very heavy price ever since. Since 1975 we had been watching our out-migration, brain drain, exporting our best and brightest. Except for a small uptick this past year we have lost almost 60,000 people and 33,000 jobs from then until now. These jobs and all the spin-offs they created supported families including the cost of higher education and definitely would have helped keep poverty in check.
The systemic economic and social dismantling of our communities with no real plan to replace our economic drivers has been devastating. Over I30,000,000 million dollars was placed in a Cape Breton Growth Fund that quickly vanished once the “come from aways” and their schemes pulled up stakes and left town after the tax incentives evaporated. For the most part, all the systems put in place did not have our community finger-prints on them and did not help us to realize our potential.
Furthermore, too many schools have closed including the one in the “occupied town of Louisbourg”, even when that struggling community tried to keep it open but their voices fell on deaf ears. As a starting position that poorly thought out decision must be reversed for that area to flourish. Also, finishing the “Fleur De Lis Trail” will connect our communities and grow the overall economy, encouraging small and medium business development. Our Churches are closing or struggling as an integral part of community well-being and spirituality.
As we have seen in this current pandemic political climate, Governments bottom line at all levels is hurting badly. The private sector is compromised and small business, the backbone of our economies are struggling. In our current Municipal Election we could have lowered the number of Councillors (a part-time position) to (8). Two positions elected for each of 4 areas (at large like the Mayor) to represent the Municipality as a whole. We could have cut salaries including the Mayor and Council to better live within our means, resulting in lower taxes for residents and business. This shows due diligence in real time.
Unfortunately little or none of these issues are being discussed in public forums and political life marches on while the taxpayer suffers. If we want to truly re-discover our “new” destiny the time has come to begin respecting this Earth we live on, while converting toward a carbon free economy. We could adopt Costa Rica as a “Companion Country” which currently is at 98% renewable energy. There are of course many more ideas to bring forth from the people to support our community, however they must be openly well thought-out, renewable and sustainable.
So many times over the years we have heard that Cape Breton Island deserves better, however we must speak with one voice and not a forked-tongue to achieve a greater common good for everyone. Only when we put aside political agendas can we achieve our true potential. The United Nations states we have 3 Rights as Humans on this Planet: Food, Shelter and Clothing. We can begin by harnessing the over 1 million acres of unused farmland in Nova Scotia (88 thousand acres in Cape Breton) to achieve these goals while supporting Farm Families, small business and this Planet.

Donnie Gauthier