Opinion piece ‘painfully short’ with answers
An recent opinion piece (“Transformative leadership needed at CBRM,” Cape Breton Post, March 17) was long on questions but, unfortunately, painfully short with answers, much less plausible solutions.
The authors of this article, after striking a definitive tone, then drop the ball by descending into the realm of platitude. They speak of the need for a plan on several occasions but give us no idea of even the most basic elements that such a strategy should incorporate. Their pleadings, rife with budget statistics, make oblique reference to funding not provided to certain agencies, doubtless favourites of the writers, but little else is suggested. This is disappointing from a group that styles itself as something of a ‘Think Tank,’ an association with new ideas and dynamic approaches.
It is one thing to excoriate but at some point one might ask: “Well, what do you have in mind? What are your tangible ideas?” Not merely bold sounding turns of phrase, though clearly transformative does have a nice ring to it. It brings to mind the sports broadcaster suggesting that a certain team must play with “more intensity.”
The authors criticize the municipality for not engaging in the promotion of immigration. Fine, what then do you suggest?
They bemoan the closing of schools? Again, most unfortunate and, again, what do you propose?
Next, they note our high taxes. This is true. Do they propose lowering them or perhaps cutting services? Which is it? Maybe both? Tell us. If the latter, which services: Fire? Police? Public works? The size of municipal staff? All of them maybe?
They note that local “child poverty is terrible.” Actually it is poverty in general, as poor children are not found in middle class families, but, that aside, what solutions do they offer?
Their most intellectually disingenuous remarks are reserved for their closing paragraphs. They point to the Membertou First Nation revival as a model or template for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). Membertou’s leadership are certainly to be credited for doing a tremendous job. Okay. Authors. Tell us how that model can work for CBRM? Please be specific? What are the similarities, in real terms, between First Nations governance, access to funding and investment to that of our municipality? Please don’t simply engage in throwing out phrases like “bold leadership, “strategic partnerships” and other tiresome bromides. Let us know in real terms.
You speak of Membertou’s legislative, provincial and federal obstacles “as greater than those of CBRM.” What were those obstacles? What are CBRMs for that matter? Or is this simply merely yet another nice sounding turn of phrase; one that coincidentally makes it clear to those of us clearly less enlightened than the authors that those who seek virtue need not explain themselves. Instead, we should merely nod and say, “Now they’re on to something. We should listen to them. They know how to get things done.” After hearing these generous tributes, the group can reconvene, confident in knowing they are doing so much for us and equally confident that we should know it. David Delaney Albert Bridge