Time to fight for increase in equalization share

The provincial government will receive $1.883 billion this year in an equalization payment from Ottawa.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM), with 14 per cent of the population (132,010), should receive around $239 million of this payment, but instead we only receive $15 million from the province.

Prince Edward Island, by contrast, has 146,283 people and receives $419 million in equalization money.

Our taxes are higher than Halifax and as you can see by one of the last CBRM council meetings we have so little money that few roads can be repaired and deserving organizations such as the Highland Arts Theatre cannot even get a $50,000 funding request.

The figures in my letter, although shocking, are well researched by respected business leaders and professors in this community. Many of them have put their heart and souls into this cause for the last 12 years.

If you would like to hear more, or even get involved in some way, please come to our next meeting of Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness at Cedar’s Club on April 3, at 7:30 p.m.

Our last meeting drew a great crowd and seven of our CBRM councillors attended after having a very busy day in council. We would love to see the other councillors attend as well as our MLAs. Anything you love should be worth fighting for and I believe most of us love Cape Breton or why are we still here? Terry Charlene MacKay Sydney