No-brainer

Two things high on the list of Cape Breton economic necessities, are jobs and tourists. Something that would provide both would be a godsend, wouldn't it?

This is why I can't understand how people haven't jumped on the Cape Breton-PEI Ferry bandwagon.

I accept that a project of this magnitude has it's obstacles and carries a bit of the "pipe dream" stigma. After all, even though the infrastructure is already in place in PEI, there isn't even a hint of that same infrastructure in Port Hood, the proposed location for the terminal. Cape Bretoners are so used to seeing the short end of government spending, that an opportunity like this seems unattainable to many folks here. To build a ferry terminal in western Cape Breton would require a substantial amount of funding (around $4 million dollars, according to my interpretation of the figures), and the attitude of the majority seems to be supportive but doubtful at the same time.

But just think about it. Places on the mainland with aggressive politicians have no shortage of government dollars to play with, and often for trivial pursuits. Why shouldn't Cape Breton be granted a piece of the pie, too? The Provincial Government just announced a $30 million dollar investment for renovations to an old government building in the Halifax Regional Municipality (that must be some awfully pretty siding). And Halifax is asking for $14 million to fund another ferry for the Eastern Passage area, an expansion of their public transit system. And what do those projects really contribute to the majority of Nova Scotians? Not much that I can see. Enjoying the beautiful landscape of the expensively renovated Joseph Howe building, and knowing that folks in Eastern Passage cut a few minutes off their commute time, doesn't do anything for the livelihood of people from Port Hastings or Inverness. Hundreds of much-needed jobs would be created with a ferry connecting Cape Breton and PEI, both from the construction and subsequent operation of a ferry terminal. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on advertising initiatives that discourage workers from moving out West, why not sink some money into a project that allows them to stay and thrive at home?

And we can't underestimate the extra tourism that would be generated by this ferry link. Visitors to PEI would be much more likely to scoot over to Cape Breton if it meant a short ferry ride between them and the Cabot Trail, than they are now, having to double back on the Pictou ferry and then face a long drive to our Island.

Granted, this is an idealistic projection of the ferry link enterprise, but even the hard facts are encouraging. The Federal Government recently announced over $60 million dollars in planned rural building and infrastructure funding for communities across Canada with a population of less than one-hundred thousand, which Port Hood would surely qualify for. In addition, a 2000 feasibility study done to examine the viability of the ferry link idea produced a positive endorsement.

Unfortunately, then-Premier John Hamm didn't provide much support for the project. Many speculated that the proposal was met with heavy opposition largely because Premier Hamm was from Pictou, the site that boasts the only Nova Scotian ferry link to PEI, and that a Cape Breton alternative would pose a threat to their economy, as direct competition. Fair enough, the opposition might have been justified in it's concern (though an increase in tourism in that area is also a likely possibility).

To that, I say tit for tat. Rodney MacDonald is Premier now, which is all the more reason for this project to receive further serious consideration. Why shouldn't we reap the benefits of having a home-grown Premier who, hopefully, understands, appreciates, and relates to the problems and needs of the people he directly represents as MLA in his riding? Other Premiers have had no trouble looking out for number one, so I say it's about time Rodney MacDonald does the same. Halifax has all the help it needs; bring your clout back home, Rodney.

My bottom line is this: a ferry service to PEI, located in western Cape Breton, has many more obvious pros than it does cons. The funding for large projects like this is available to those who are willing to fight for it, and Cape Breton has politely fallen by the wayside for far too long, in my opinion. This is an opportunity for everyone to get together and get behind something that would be a great step forward for all Islanders. Because, as the saying goes, "if you build it, they will come."