Path leading to Cape Breton independence revealed

Unlike David Johnson’s rhetorical, spin-doctoring column in the Cape Breton Post citing me as an ill-founded separatist (“Cape Breton separation not going to happen,” March 21), I do indeed retort with a bold vision forward for Cape Breton Island (CBI), rooted in sound legal principles and a viable political structure which to succeed needs to be shaped

and implemented by Cape Bretoners.

As one of many decentralization paths leading to CBI independence, I assert that a devolution of powers from Halifax to a CBI District Assembly (or call it council if you prefer) be formed by a collaborative merger of the four CBI counties, plus the Town of Port Hawkesbury and through negotiations with the provincial government.

Under a quad-county agreement, it is assumed that regardless of the geographic land area, economic size or population each CBI county will have an equal say and share of the new self-governing powers of the District of CBI.

It is also further envisioned if this path to CBI independence is followed that each of the four counties of CBI will under a decentralized cooperative governance structure host an equal number of CBI’s functional departments, and that Baddeck should host as the capital of the CBI District Administration.

This structure will effectively be a province in waiting but nevertheless a governance structure with a broad set of powers enabling greater CBI Independence, within the province of Nova Scotia and established through a process of devolution within a rate of implementation that Nova Scotia and CBI mutually agree.

I call for CBI municipal mayors, wardens and councillors to take a broader island-wide perspective and to come together to form a CBI District Assembly (CBIDA). Under this model, the four-county administrations plus the town of Port Hawkesbury could optionally be merged into one island wide super administrative entity, or all five could be retained and respective representatives (mayors and deputies) appointed to the new CBIDA.

I further recommend that motions to be passed by the CBIDA require a minimum of a 3/4 majority vote so that at least three of our four counties must support all motions to be passed.

For the betterment of the island-wide community, I again challenge Cape Breton University professors Johnson, Tom Urbaniak and Jim Guy to an open public debate on the topic of CBI governance. Mark Macneill, M.B.A., M.P.A., LL.B., LL.M., Legal Analyst

Sydney