‘Shame’ on councillors for denying HAT request

When I saw the March 7 edition of the Cape Breton Post, I was a little concerned about the timing of the top article entitled ‘Sydney theatre hopeful government support on the way.’ For just underneath that article, which informed the public of the Highland Arts Theatre’s (HAT) five Merritt Award nominations, was the news that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality council had approved its capital budget.

Turns out my concerns were well founded. Out of a $34 million budget, the HAT was denied its request for a $50,000 operating grant.

It’s too bad the Merritt nominations hadn’t been announced a few days earlier. This same article posted at the beginning of the week would have been a timely reminder of artistic director Wesley J. Colford’s impassioned plea to council on Feb. 5 for funding.

To the councillors who talked about the importance of the HAT in our community but couldn’t find any money to help keep it open, I say shame on you. Patricia MacDonald Howie Centre

Having grown up in a politically active household/environment in Cape Breton, I learned at a young age the political “issues” we, as citizens, should pay particular attention to in order to determine the accountability of our government.

I first canvassed door to door during the provincial election of 1978, and from that time forward, the only political consistency I have observed (federally and provincially) is the dismantling of the Cape Breton economy. This includes basic infrastructure like our roads and rail lines.

How comforting it was, therefore, to read about the Cedars Hall meeting of the Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness in the Cape Breton Post (“We’re being robbed systematically,” March 7).

Hopefully, this grassroots protest will mushroom to a freight train and go viral nationally. That may lead to us getting a chunk of the money owed, affording us the opportunity to again pursue what is legally ours. (How zany is that reality?)

The folks who are currently receiving our rightful share will certainly be pressuring the puppet cartel in Halifax to maintain the status quo.

With people like Jim Guy involved with Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness, the group has credibility in the eyes of the aforementioned cartel (and all Cape Bretoners who have been benefiting from his political finesse for years) so I have April 3rd penciled into my calendar.

With a bit of luck maybe we can rally 10,000 Cape Bretoners. Surely there are that many who would echo Fr. Albert Maroun’s “No more. No more. No more.” Anthony MacDonald North Sydney