CBRM ON A TEAR
The minister of Municipal Affairs isn’t saying when legislation in support of a charter for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality may be introduced in the legislative assembly.
The Cape Breton Post asked Derek Mombourquette, who is also MLA for Sydney-Whitney Pier, whether legislation may be introduced in the spring legislature sitting during a teleconference and scrum with reporters following cabinet Thursday.
“I’m not going to put a timeline on it at this point,” he said. “They may have some meetings scheduled for the new year so we haven’t put a specific date of whether it would be the spring or the fall.”
He said he met with representatives of the CBRM in July, after being named to the portfolio, and councillors talked about their desire for a charter.
“What I told them is to engage in the process it would be important to go out and get public consultation to ensure that the community’s voice is heard as they go toward developing a charter,” Mombourquette said.
He added it’s his understanding the CBRM is doing that currently as part of its budget consultation sessions, which are ongoing.
“Part of that consultation with the public is looking at what a charter would look like for the CBRM,” he said. “CBRM is doing exactly what I requested and I look forward to the results of that so we can move forward with their request for a charter.”
CBRM is seeking a municipal charter to give it greater freedom in a number of areas including taxation. A charter is also required if the CBRM is to be able to offer a 99-year lease for lands it hopes will eventually become host to a container terminal operation.
A charter was one of Cecil Clarke’s campaign commitments in his initial 2012 mayoral bid.
Mombourquette said he didn’t place any specific reporting requirements on the CBRM in bringing that feedback to the province.
“I think it’s an important process for the CBRM that if they want that piece of legislation that they go out and they receive proper feedback from the community,” Mombourquette said. It’s been more than five years since Clarke was first elected mayor and the CBRM still hasn’t gotten its charter.
The Halifax region is also looking for some amendments to its existing charter. Mombourquette said there is no timeline set by the department for moving ahead with those requests either.