We Can't Afford The Province Of Halifax!

Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness Follow Me

Posted this 2023-02-17 11:29 AM AST

The province is expressing alarm at some of CBRM's financial affairs, but municipal officials say things are not as bad as they seem. We get the details from... The CBRM receives $15 million yearly in equalization. We pay back $22 million in provincial costs. The Province will cancel our $15 million if we don’t improve our financial situation. Would we not be better off to have them cancel our measly $15 million and then send them nothing? This province is 100% corrupt, in our opinion. They use us to generate billions and then criticize us for being in a poor financial situation while they keep our funding. Rural Nova Scotia and the CBRM can no longer afford the HRM and its growth. It is time to set up a Regional Government or another arrangement to better represent us because the current political representation is not existent, and we are sinking. Have a listen to the following interview on CBC this morning…… https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-24-information-morning-cape-breton/clip/15966979-province-threatens-pull-grants-cbrm

Posted by Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness
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Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-17 12:34 PM AST Reply 2 0 The federal Equalization transfers are being manipulated illegally by both the federal government and the provincial government. This year’s Equalization Program is federally sending almost $2.803 billion to the Nova Scotia government. In just one of the 5 categories in the formula, which generates about 22 percent of the total or more than $600 million because of the municipal deficiency in tax capacity related to property taxes and miscellaneous revenues, the provincial government has NEVER explained why this federally funded municipal deficiency has not been addressed. Why have 5 towns been dissolved due to lack of funding? Why are many other municipal governments also financially struggling? No answer to these questions from government. Why? The Nova Scotia government continues to fund municipal governments with just $30 million equalization grant as the federal government over the decades has almost tripled this funding. Is it any surprise that municipal governments are in financial crisis leading to some having to politically dissolve. Where else is this one category of funding going- over $600 million - but in the province of Halifax?
Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-19 6:54 AM AST Reply 1 0 No one,no government,no financial institution is gonna hand money out to any organization who doesn't have their own house in order.We have 13 elected officials who approve a multi million dollar budget who aren't qualified to do so.We have our Mayor providing excuses for some people not to pay their taxes yet admitting they need to hire a tax collector.Tax collection is complex and cases must be handled on a case by case basis with a view to having them paid at the end,with terms that are fair to both the client and the Municipality.This takes work and there should be no "blanket" forgiveness.Unfortunately there are folks out there who play the system which is not fair to those who pay faithfully.Then there are funds that are supposedly approved for us that are outstanding since the Thanksgiving storm.We elect 13 people to stay on top of things like that.Where are they? I hope citizens remember what this gang who couldn't shoot straight are doing to us come election time.
Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-19 2:02 PM AST Reply 1 0 As a property owner I can agree that the CBRM council has contributed to its financial problems. But part of the blame lies with the federal government’s “unconditional” transfer of $billions that requires no accountability or transparency as to where it is being used, and the federal government cannot cite the legal authority to do so. As for the CBRM’s financial issue, the mayor and councillors have refused to again even seek the answer to where over $600 million this year is federally funded to pay for the municipal deficiency in tax capacity related to property taxes and miscellaneous revenues. Obviously, the decades-old provincial equalization grant of $30 million to rural residents and the CBRM is inadequate. Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-19 2:21 PM AST Reply 1 0 Charles,I can't get over the fact that we are still owed money from the Thanksgiving storm from 5 years ago.The Mayor and Council should be all over that,getting to the bottom of who is to blame,the CAO and her staff for not applying or the Provincial and Federal Government.That's why we elected them,as a watchdog over the administration.They are too busy whining and doing nothing about it.All 13 gotta go.It's been pathetic and now embarassing. Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-19 2:45 PM AST Reply 1 0 Yes, I agree.
Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-22 3:17 PM AST Reply 2 0 The CBRM mayor and councillors are well compensated for their complete lack of effort regarding their responsibility to ensure this municipality’s residents receives their constitutional federal equalization support which our so-called democratic governments illegally spend in the HRM. The CBRM taxpayers have to not re-elect the politicians who have refused to seek the answers to the obvious questions that were written by the Fr. Maroun NSEF committee and for the CBRM Councillors to send them to the provincial and federal governments as the government level most affected and demands answers. The CBRM municipal government refused. This refusal to act and to represent the citizens of this municipality must not be rewarded with their being re-elected. The citizens of this municipality (CBRM) are the problem if every politician who refuses to do the work about the equalization unaccountability by all levels of government that has to be done is simply rewarded by their re-election. Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-23 9:05 AM AST Reply 2 0 I never take a side on the equalization issue because I don't know enough about it.I will voice an opinion about the Mayor and Council:TOTALLY DISFUNCTIONAL,ALL TALK AND NO ACTION.I never seen such a group of politicians.They just don't get along and nothing gets done.I worked with a lot of groups over the years and normally someone steps up to the plate as leader and not necessarily the one with the big title.They can pop up out of nowhere.This hasn't happened.Some go out of their way to disagee with something just to stop it in it's tracks.Nothing of consequence is getting done.
Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-23 9:56 AM AST Reply 1 0 Ray, your caution is not a problem. You are not alone either. However, our problem is that not one of the three political parties - provincial or federal and even municipal - who have been in the position of being the governing party refuse to come to explain their own figures or the federal practice of transferring these billions of dollars "unconditionally." It is important to note: The NSEF group of citizens have not produced these figures or the "unconditional" transfer when these transfers also are an enshrined supreme law in the Constitution. To add more confusion there is the bizarre decision of a lower Nova Scotia court overruling the SCOC' 1950 decision which no government will explain. The NSEF members are looking for answers from the government or the bureaucracy to obvious questions, but there is no response from the government. Paul W Mac Leod Follow Me 2023-02-23 11:45 AM AST Reply 2 0 So, who will run for office, Municipal, Provincial and Federal, and promise to work each and every day to ensure this is changed for the benefit of Cape Breton? For years we have had people in these positions who just talk in circles and really say nothing which accomplishes the same outcome "Nothing"....... Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-23 11:55 AM AST Reply 2 0 There are real leaders in the community who just need a little nudge to run.People gotta get away from being hung up on a party.That means nothing anymore.Parties change platforms depending which way the wind is blowing.Need open/honest/ transparent people,not afraid to take chances,think outside the box and stir the pot when necessary. Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness My Post Follow Me 2023-02-23 12:07 PM AST Reply 2 0 Well said Raymond! Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness My Post Follow Me 2023-02-23 12:06 PM AST Reply 2 0 Well Paul. That has been the problem. Stephen McNeil stated in 2012 that if elected, he would perform an audit of equalization but when he was successful, he would not speak about it and never fulfilled his promise. Even Amanda MacDougall when she decided to run for mayor would not mention the word equalization and still will not today. Rodger Cuzner looked us straight in the eye and said no one in Ottawa will touch this issue. The public are starting to realize that this province is a corporation and is run by big businesspeople who control the politicians. Graham Steele, a finance minister under Darrel Dexter, wrote a book about the corruption when he was finished being a politician (keep in mind that Mr. Steele was a Rhode Scholar and very smart lawyer), he said in his book, and I quote, "all substantial decisions on bills and budgets are made elsewhere” (page 31 of What I learned about Politics by Graham Steele) and Mr. Steele also said “The truth is that Province House is not the place from which Nova Scotia is governed, The real decision-making about everything – health, education, support for the poor and disabled, justice, transportation-happens behind closed doors in office buildings scattered around downtown Halifax”. Big business runs our municipality, province and country. Paul W Mac Leod Follow Me 2023-02-24 10:02 PM AST Reply 0 0 Is Graham one of Harry's Sons? Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-26 12:01 PM AST Reply 0 0 Do not know Graham Steele's family background. Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-23 1:01 PM AST Reply 1 0 Paul and Ray: The control by the political party system is very deep and entrenched in our political culture. The rewards for following this political party agenda are very generous. The past history of our well rewarded politicians is the evidence. Running as an independent is not promoted but seriously criticized. The impression left with the voter is that an independent is a waste of time because you are alone in a legislative body that is under the control of forces beyond the Legislature as Graham Steele stated in his book. Unless one goes along with the agenda of the party to get elected and then do what should be done, this problem will not be resolved quickly. The public, too, has to be responsible and accountable for their vote, which so far has not been the case. Jimmy Carter ran for the presidency of the US but did not tell the public exactly what his real intentions were if elected. He got elected in that way. The shorter path would be if a candidate could be honest with the electorate and the electorate informed sufficiently enough to vote for this and any other candidate that would be running on this same platform. The NSEF message is a repeat of what the government has online but asking questions the governments refuse to answer. The reason: The government cannot defend its own manipulation of these major transfers of billions of dollars and will do what it can to prevent the public-at-large from understanding its corruption against half of Nova Scotians. Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-23 1:21 PM AST Reply 1 0 Ray and Paul: The question: Why does the mayor and councillors regard the Fr. Maroun NSEF's advocacy on the federal and provincial manipulation of the federal Equalization program as unfriendly and "offensive" instead of "an ally?" A top bureaucracy official in the Dept. Municipal Affairs told another municipal official on this island that the NSEF group are dangerous people. This level of financial manipulation is a big, big scandal that the establishment so far has not been held accountable for what it has done to municipal units outside the Capital Region.
Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-23 6:46 PM AST Reply 2 0 SHAME!SHAME!SHAME! Must be a lot of local politicians hiding under their couch and not answering the phone tonight.The Menonites from British Columbia are coming back free of charge to help some locals fix their homes and make them livable after Fiona because there was no help to be found from anyone here. Paul W Mac Leod Follow Me 2023-02-24 10:12 PM AST Reply 0 0 And we have Trudeau, on T.V. at the time, promising that devastated man in Glace Bay "that he was there for him." I suspect he was not compensated as he should have been... Shame is too mild a word!!! Paul W Mac Leod Follow Me 2023-02-24 10:14 PM AST Reply 1 0 "Down with the Causeway!" Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-24 10:31 PM AST Reply 0 0 https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/it-s-a-lot-worse-than-we-originally-thought-fiona-damage-remains-ahead-of-n-s-disaster-assistance-deadline-1.6287126
Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-25 9:52 AM AST Reply 0 0 Those poor people in the video I posted below have been on the news several times.Where are the politicians?Most folks are intimidated to approach a politician but you would think that one of them should have been proactive and approached these guys.They were left swinging in the wind with no one to turn to.Now the Menonites,free of charge are gonna help.What a black mark on CBRM!
Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-26 12:32 PM AST Reply 0 0 This government unaccountability and no transparency for more than two decades involving about $50,000,000,000 of Equalization Transfers to Nova Scotia hav resulted in 5 towns dissolving because of financial problems. The federal government continues to enable the provincial governments to ignore its constitutional obligation to provide reasonable comparable public services at reasonably comparable rates of taxation. The federal government is not complying with its commitment under the Constitution Act, of 1982. The federal government, despite numerous requests, has not provided the legal reference that would authorize this illegal unconditional transfer of Equalization payments to this province. The citizen volunteer NSEF members have asked all levels of government to answer several questions concerning the government's manipulation of the Equalization program, but all political parties refuse to meet with the Father Maroun committee and be recorded for the public to hear what the government has to say. And this is what the politicians and government supporters call responsible government! The federal government tells the NSEF committee - after it washes its hands of its legal responsibility with its "unconditional transfers" of the Equalization transfers - it is the responsibility of the citizens of Nova Scotia to hold the Nova Scotia government accountable. When the federal government is reminded that its illegal unconditional transfers provide the provincial government with a simple unconditional response that the transfers are "unconditional" - and nothing more. When the federal government is reminded of its illegal practice of the Equalization transfers and asked to explain how the citizens of Nova Scotia are supposed to hold the Nova Scotia government accountable when their hands are handcuffed by the federal unconditional transfers, no reply is received. And this is what the responsible government in Nova Scotia and Canada is doing. Charles Sampson Follow Me 2023-02-26 12:54 PM AST Reply 0 0 Furthermore, every year the federal transfers contained a significant percentage of the total transfer because of the formula generated municipal deficiency in tax capacity RELATED TO PROPERTY TAXES AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES. That significant percentage is about 22 percent - over $600,000,000 of the total transfer this year of $2,802,800,000 to the Nova Scotia government. The provincial government continues to fund their provincial (equalization grant) with a capped-for-years $30 million in the now called Municipal Financial Capacity Grant. Can any municipal, provincial or federal politician or bureaucrat explain where - EVERY YEAR - the remainder of this federal government formula generated municipal deficiency in tax capacity RELATELD TO PROPERTY TAXES AND MISCELLANEOUS REVENUES gets spend?
Raymond Mac Donald Follow Me 2023-02-27 9:30 PM AST Reply 0 0 If you weren't sure what I was referring to in my post above about a DISFUNCTIONAL Mayor and Council,wait till you see the following article in the CB POST tomorrow and this is just one thing,there is much more: CBRM mayor breached code of conduct over Canada Day backlash, council finds