It is important to hold politicians accountable if we want to see Cape Breton heal. Yesterday, this Letter to the Editor was published in the Cape Breton Post. Mike Kelloway seems to have a policy that any meetings with the NSEF are not to be recorded but here is what Mike Kelloway stated on Dec 10th ,2020: “The Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness group (NSEF), your organization, has made a policy of recording all meeting with politicians and I respect that stance. I have made my own policy of not recording meetings” The NSEF has witnessed many meetings with constituents and stakeholders that are recorded on Mike Kelloways Facebook page. Here are some examples: https://www.facebook.com/CBPartnership/videos/134050582099810 https://www.facebook.com/mikekellowaymp/videos/1141809602949555 https://www.facebook.com/mikekellowaymp/videos/1084121055408961 And there are many more....So, it seems that Mike Kelloway has a policy of not recording anything that pertains to Equalization. Does this not alarm the voters? Mike Kelloway’s policy on recording is highly selective politically when he allows only those interviews that will advance his political career to be recorded. On issues which highlight his lack of political representation on behalf of his constituents, he forbids to have his words recorded. One such issue of vital importance is the issue of the Federal Equalization Transfer and Mike is being disingenuous here because the CBRM and Cape Breton is being seriously underfunded. Mike knows very well that the Federal Equalization transfer category related to a municipal deficiency in their tax capacity represents approx. 23% of each year’s total transfer. The latest transfer is $ 2.315 billion, and Mike knows that the Provincial grant of only $30 million to all of Nova Scotia, is grossly inadequate when the federal transfer is providing over $500 million for this category. Why is Mike Kelloway lying to his constituents? Why is Mike Kelloway not fighting for Cape Bretoners? Why is Mike Kelloway ignoring the constitutional commitment to Nova Scotians? Why is Mike Kelloway not doing his Job? Party politics is the reason! Here is Charles Sampson’s letter to the editor: Hi Mike Kelloway, What has been most disturbing is the disingenuous responses and the completely intentional misleading information by the federal government regarding its accountability for the federal Equalization program. The federal government’s role has been completely irresponsible and noncompliant constitutionally with the Constitution Act, 1982. As you are well aware, this federal program is completely 100 percent a federal program. It is paid for from federal taxes from all Canadian taxpayers. As you are well aware, too, the provinces could do absolutely nothing about the federal government’s cancellation of the scheduled 5-year 2018 discussion session regarding these federal Equalization transfers. The federal government simply told the provinces this was not going to happen until the year 2023. This control of the federal Equalization program was confirmed further by professor/economist Dr. Trevor Tombe, University of Calgary and research fellow at the School of Public Policy in a CBC news report. Dr. Tombe stated the Equalization program is a “100 percent federal program.” He also added further, “The provinces have no role in terms of the design and implementation of that program.” https://www.cbc.ca/.../jason-kenney-equalization-payments... Yet, responses from federal elected representatives state that the federal responsibility ends upon the transfers to the provinces. Pontius Pilate would appreciate such a betrayal! The federal government then adds that the citizens must hold the provincial governments accountable. This is completely dishonest on the part of the federal government and an impossible political task for the citizens, which the federal government intended when it transfers these Equalization transfers without conditions, which also totally ignores its constitutional commitment pursuant to s.36. The federal government knows fully-well these Equalization transfers have been and are still politically manipulated by every provincial government of Nova Scotia - even after this constitutional commitment was enshrined in the Constitution in 1982. The federal government knows these Equalization transfers are intentionally hidden-away from any accountability and transparency for the citizens of Nova Scotia, when every provincial government has deliberately placed these Equalization transfers in the General Revenues specifically to avoid any accountability to their citizens, Which all of the provincial governments have refused to produce any transparency to its citizens. Mike, you are fully-cognizant of these illegalities and have chosen to remain silent. That makes you as guilty of this crime against the citizens who have confided their trust in you to honestly represent their interest. You, to date, have not done so! What have you to say to the citizens of this community in response to these allegations against you? Yours truly, Charles W. Sampson Note. The Post changed a few items in the original letter but we posted here the actual letter that was sent into the Post. We will also send this letter to the Premier as well as Jaime Battiste.