LETTER: Need for accountability, transparency with equalization payment

The politicalization of equalization is the problem in Canada.

I recently learned that our equalization situation in the CBRM has gone from bad to worse. We used to receive $15 million, and I have learned that in a few years, we will receive only $13 million, all while the equalization payment to the province grows by hundreds of millions each year.

Recently, we watched as Alberta voted to stay with Canada, and it always baffled me that the residents who wanted to separate are more concerned about the amount they paid to Ottawa than about how their equalization money was being used within the country.

The federal government, the prime minister, and our MPs had better start to investigate the equalization program and make the changes necessary to the program to ensure that fairness prevails within our country, for all citizens. This program is supposed to be up for review every five years, so why do they continue to extend a flawed program without the necessary changes made?

The receiving provinces are being perceived as welfare provinces, and we are sick and tired of comments like always having your hands out and don’t expect the hard-working provinces to subsidize your laziness and develop your resources and stop crying poor mouth.

In the 30 years since the decline of our industry, what effort has been made to develop opportunity in our region? The province receives all this equalization funding to help us with our poor fiscal capacity, and they make sure we stay poor… so they get more.

Perhaps if the provincial government continues to not be accountable and transparent with the yearly federal equalization transfer, Cape Breton should hold its own referendum.

Rev. Dr. Albert Maroun

Sydney