TIME TO FORM A CAPE BRETON ISLAND COMMISSION

The title Cape Breton Partnership sounds promising. It conjures up the notion of Capers working together with a common goal of making our island stronger — socially and economically.

If anyone works for this organization, I offer my congratulations on the one hand but on the other I have one observation that is a little critical. My concern has to do with our island being divided into two halves by the Province of Nova Scotia through the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing — to create not one but two distinct Regional Enterprise Networks (with separate administrations, with Cape Breton Partnership board oversight).

Perhaps it's the adage of divide and conquer. Or did the sitting Cape Breton Regional Municipality at the time (2019) wish, seek and agree to standing separate from the rest of the island?

Many may know I advocate for our island to pull together and work in unison in governing and directing our affairs. What's truly needed is the formation of a Cape Breton Island Commission, with full intra-island representation from all of our island's local municipal and first nation governments, to strategically plan and direct a new governance structure for our people, to progress us on a devolutionary path to self-governance with a strong, independent future. Mark Macneill

Mabou