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SYDNEY, N.S. — Upwards of 600 people gathered in front of Sydney’s provincial building on Wednesday to protest what they see as the Nova Scotia government’s unfair treatment of Cape Breton.

Organized by the watchdog group Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness, the late-afternoon rally caught the attention of rush hour commuters as the slogan-chanting, placard-waving protestors lined both sides of Prince Street for about two-and-a-half hours.

Group co-founder Rev. Albert Maroun seemed to be everywhere as he worked the crowd, handing out information sheets and talking to supporters.

“I think this is great, it’s a great turnout,” said a smiling Maroun, who is one of the faces of the equalization reform movement.

“This is telling the government that people here have had enough, they’ve had enough of being treated unfairly by the provincial government — most people never knew how bad it’s been, but they know now and they’re telling Halifax they know.”

At issue is the annual $1.8 billion federal equalization payment that Nova Scotia receives from Ottawa and how it relates to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s bleak economic situation.

Nova Scotians for Equalization Fairness argues that the cash-strapped CBRM is entitled to much more than the $15 million it receives annually from the province and that the transfer to the municipality should be closer to $239 million.

Derek Mombourquette

Municipal Affairs Minister Derek Mombourquette, a former CBRM councillor who has represented Sydney-Whitney Pier since 2015, refutes the group’s contention and says 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. grant-in-lieu of property tax program and partly from the province’s general revenues.

But those who showed up for Wednesday’s rally did not appear convinced.

With his thick mop of windswept hair, 15-year-old Howie Centre resident Iain Gingell received plenty of attention as he carried a placard comparing how much more money Prince Edward Island, with a population of just 10,000 more people than Cape Breton Island, receives than does the CBRM.

Minnie Pearl came from “near the source of the Mira River” to show her support for the cause and she made no bones as to why Cape Breton is fiscally broken.

“We’re too laid back, we need to start yelling and screaming and demand that something be done — we also need to be more optimistic, we can change things, but let’s just stop taking it like we have been taking it for all these years,” she said, as she held a “CBRM Not Equal” sign near the corner of Prince and Inglis streets.

Across the busy roadway, Brenda Matheson enthusiastically waved her own sign at the passing vehicles.

Brenda Matheson

“Look, if we don’t stand together, we won’t succeed — what the province has done to us is just sad and disgusting,” said the Sydney dog groomer.

“We’re not getting our share, we’re taxed at an outrageous rate and what’s more is that while the province gives us a $15 million transfer, it then turns around and bills us (CBRM) for $17 million – I am outraged and ashamed of our fellow Nova Scotians for treating us like this.”

Matheson also pointed out that Halifax actually appears to be benefiting from Cape Breton’s poverty by collecting the significant federal equalization transfer payment that, she argues, is as large as it is because of the CBRM’s dismal fiscal capacity, and keeping most of it in the Nova Scotia capital.

Equalization protest on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.

A patriotic Rod Gale was hard to miss as he waved a large Cape Breton Island flag while making his way up and down the protest lines.

“This is great, it looks like something is finally starting to materialize and happen here — the province has treated us unfairly and refuses to fix things, but maybe they are providing the solution to our problem because people are starting to realize that we have a supportive culture and that we’re not going to take it anymore,” said Gale.

With a bright blue sky and relatively warm temperatures, the atmosphere of the rally took on an jovial and positive air as residents mingled and shared stories of Cape Breton’s fiscal decline and opinions on how it might be fixed.

The rally remained peaceful, with protestors occasionally slowing down Prince Street traffic as they made their way across the busy road at the Inglis Street crosswalk.

david.jala@cbpost.com

Previous coverage:

CBRM council considers action on equalization payment fairness