Port project still lacks details

Not much appetite to refurbish railway with public money

Soon perhaps, we may be encouraged to remember that historic morning of Nov. 7, 1885 when, at Craigellachie, B.C., at precisely 9:22 a.m., Donald Smith drove the last spike in the railroad that joined us from sea to sea, allowing prosperity to flow across its rusty tracks.

I say we will be encouraged to remember this time because, according to Albert Barbusci, described as a “power broker” in the ostensible development of a local container terminal, we must witness a similar occurrence again, at least locally, if we are to prosper economically.

There will be thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in economic development, if only we can repair that damnable old railway that is our link to a world of commercial richness beyond. At least according to Barbusci.

I read an article provided recently in the Cape Breton Post (“No railway, no container port”, Sept. 25) with a degree of cynicism far beyond any effort to merely describe as sceptical inquiry or critical observation. No, my views qualify as pure cynicism, hardened by years of this nonsensical talk, unrealistic projections and pure doublespeak all related to the container port project.

Yet, perhaps I am wrong, something I demonstrate all too regularly. So, let me simply pose some questions which perhaps Barbusci might answer in response to my altogether ignorant and ill-informed line of inquiry.

Barbusci says, “we have all the necessary shipping lines and port operators” with the one remaining obstacle before work can begin on Sydney harbour container port being a revived railroad. I must say how very heartening it is to hear such news.

Fine, but is it too much to ask who might be our great corporate benefactors? Perhaps Maersk or Hapag Lloyd are lying in anchor off our coast, their captains peering through binoculars waiting for that metaphorical last spike to be driven. Is this the case? If not, then might you and your associates be so kind as to show us, or at least our political representatives, a copy of the contract or memorandum of understanding outlining their commitment. Then again, it may be that all of this is subject to confidentiality and we are not quite up to learning of all these wonderful happenings. The shock after all would surely be more than we could handle.

Barbusci goes on to repeat his good news, saying “all the pieces are now in place, all the heavy lifting is done.” In fact, he says his efforts have been so successful that there is “nothing more he can do until a guarantee is made that the railway will be restored.” I must say, excellent work; well done indeed. Do tell us the details so that our lugubrious spirits may be revived.

Then, of course, for added measure are the jobs. Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP) state there will be 12, 814 in the initial phase of construction. Not 12,800 or 12,900 or even 13,000 but 12,814. Credit must be given to those who can be so precise in this regard. Then, in the first year of operations, there will be 2,647, yet another figure calculated with such precision as to remove any doubt of its authenticity. Of course, with the jobs come multi-millions of dollars of investment and, let us not forget, tax revenues flowing into our local public treasury. I believe $61 million at last count.

I emphatically agree … at least in part … with Barbusci when he says: “It’s an opportune time for this community. They’ve been left in the dark. I think it’s time for them to know that this is real.” Take out the “… that this is real” part and I agree with him in full.

Several years ago we dug a hole in Sydney harbour to the tune of $30 million public dollars. It’s now filling in, having accomplished nothing. The thinking then had about it the same mindset now calling for the public to refurbish the railroad.

Should a container port come, certainly a desirable outcome, it will do so because private operators decide it’s in their economic interests to do so. The railroad is but a small piece in that configuration and one they can handle. The public has had enough of handing out big dollars for all too many economic misadventures in this community. Our desperation for economic revival does have its limits. Not foolishly financing this railway’s refurbishment is one of them.

“... is it too much to ask who might be our great corporate benefactors?”