Equalization consternation
Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness stage hour-long protest along Kings Road
About 200 people took their demands for a better share of equalization funding for Cape Breton to Kings Road Tuesday afternoon.
Organized by the group Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness, the hour-long protest was held outside Cabot House, where both Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking and Sydney-Whitney Pier MLA Derek Mombourquette have offices, protesters waved signs with now-familiar phrases that bemoan high tax rates and call for government audits, eliciting honks of support from passing motorists.
It followed a larger but similar protest outside the provincial building earlier this month that attracted upwards of 600
supporters.
“That’s why we’re dying — we need that money. The federal government knows we need that money but the federal government is not doing an
audit and neither is the provincial government on where the money is going,” group cofounder Rev. Albert Maroun said in an interview.
The group has been taking aim at the annual $1.8-billion federal equalization payment that Nova Scotia receives from Ottawa and how it is distributed throughout the province. Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness argues that the cashstrapped CBRM is entitled to more than the $15 million it receives annually from the province, arguing that the transfer to the municipality should be closer to $239 million.
When asked if he is worried that the sort of public protests that took place Tuesday may not have its desired effect, Maroun said Tuesday’s protest was specifically intended to draw attention to the actions — or inactions — of elected officials. He said they are also exploring other potential avenues including a possible class-action lawsuit.
“If we have to go the route of class action, we will, but we’d rather settle this peacefully and without going to the courts,” Maroun said.
“(A class action) is a very strong possibility, considering the lack of response we’re getting from government officials. They should be worried.”
It’s too early to say when such an action might be pursued, Maroun added.
While the legal action launched by former CBRM Mayor John Morgan ultimately proved fruitless, Maroun said at that time Morgan lacked the support of the people, something he believes is not the case today.
While Mombourquette hasn’t agreed to meet with the group, he did go to the picket line Tuesday, listening and responding to the criticisms of those who approached him.
Mombourquette has said the $15 million is a provincial transfer operating grant that has nothing to do with the federal equalization transfer program and is instead partly from the Nova Scotia Power Inc. grantin-lieu of property tax program and partly from general revenues.
Maroun said Eyking has met with them but they await his responses to a number of questions that they posed to him.
“They’re giving us the money, they should want to know where it’s going,” Maroun said of Ottawa.
Michael MacNeil of Shenacadie was among those who took the opportunity to speak directly to Mombourquette about his concerns.
“I don’t think we’re getting our fair share and there are some other issues around that are happening here that shouldn’t be happening,” he said.
“We’ve been shafted forever from our provincial government, not getting equal pay from the federal grant that they give to Halifax and Halifax gets to distribute,” Shirley Pettigrew of Mira Gut. “We just want our share.
“I’m 86 years old, I’m not too old to protest.”