View from Glace Bay not positive

As the summer comes to a close and we begin looking at the year ahead, our view here in Glace Bay is, perhaps, less hopeful.

I understand a positive outlook is the healthiest way to engage transitions in life but it is getting extremely difficult to remain positive with the lack of employment opportunities locally.

Over the summer, it was announced that we are losing the Bayplex (at least temporarily but who really knows for sure at this point).

In addition, the Glace Bay shoe store and the Easyhome furniture store have closed their doors and now the ICEAP (International Centre for English Academic Preparation) is moving to Cape Breton University.

Not only will those losses affect direct employment opportunities, but they will also have a huge impact on the downtown area restaurants and other merchants in Glace Bay.

During all his turmoil one has to ask, where is our government representation? Last year’s census identified that we lost almost three per cent of our population and as it now looks we have a long way to go before it gets better.

My experience working with youth is that most want to know what they need to “work out west.” The premier says the province is growing and from his office window in Halifax it would be difficult to argue as construction cranes tower over the city.

But what about Cape Breton? We deserve some support here, don’t we? We are still a part of Nova Scotia, are we not? Perhaps it is time to look at decentralizing some of those stable government jobs to help us along here, but instead of leading the way, Premier Stephen McNeil is busy ensuring his Bill 148 will hold up in court. Is this leadership?

I know I will be scrutinized for condemning our elected government officials but that’s fine. They are elected to represent the people of Nova Scotia and until the causeway becomes a border that includes Cape Breton.

Glace Bay is in an extremely fragile state right now and at a time when we have both provincial and federal Liberal governments I don’t see any red caped superheroes rushing in to help us.

Unfortunately, the youth of our town has become our fastest growing export. This is not acceptable to me and it shouldn’t be acceptable to you.

Cape Bretoners are a resilient people. That is for sure. But saying goodbye to our children just doesn’t get any easier and is contributing to the declining population.

Mr. Premier, can you hear our SOS? Throw us a lifeline please.