Parks Canada has turned down a request to extend the public consultation period on controversial plans to build a massive ‘Mother Canada’ statue on national parkland in Cape Breton.

Sunday was the last chance Nova Scotians had to weigh in on the project by providing Parks Canada with their feedback on the proposed statue — a 10-storey-high representation of an anguished woman, her arms reaching eastward over the ocean, meant to honour Canadian soldiers who fought and died in the two world wars.

Liberal MP for Sydney-Victoria Mark Eyking supports the monument but said the government went about informing the public of the location — and gathering their feedback — the wrong way.

“There’s been a bit of mismanagement from the government side, the way we came to find out about it. There was an order in council and then this thing was moved along before the people even knew.”

Eyking said he held his own public meeting in Green Cove, near the proposed location, to gauge local reaction. He said that while most residents in the area support the monument, they also say they’d like more time for consultation.

“I requested from Parks Canada on Thursday that they extend (the deadline) because it’s such a big project and it’s on Parks Canada property,” he said. Parks Canada rejected his request, which would have extended the deadline to August 7.

Eyking said Parks Canada told him that enough time has been provided for public comments.

The group behind the monument is the Never Forgotten National Memorial Foundation, headed by Toronto businessman Tony Trigiani. Eyking acknowledged that project isn’t spearheaded by Islanders.

“Our money’s quite tight and this being a private initiative that makes a big difference,” he said. “When a private person steps up to the plate and looks at an investment in our area like this most people are for it but everyone wants to see it done properly.”

Eyking said the area is struggling economically and the monument could be a draw for tourism — but he still thinks more time should be offered for residents to make their views known.

“It’s not like the shovels were going to be turning the next few weeks up there,” said Eyking.

While the government “didn’t do the right thing on the front end”, Eyking said he hopes residents’ concerns are addressed before the project moves ahead — whether it’s on the proposed site or somewhere in northern Cape Breton where there may be less controversy around the land. The Globe reported, last year, that letters to the editor poured into the the local newspaper, The Victoria Standard, creating a heated debate among residents.

One resident told the Globe’s Jane Taber that if placed on Green Cove “all you’re going to see is her arse.”

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society also came out against the location, calling it “not appropriate” for the park, and also cited concerns over Park Canada’s lack of transparency in approving the cite.

The project is scheduled to be completed by Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017.