The company behind the Cabot Links and Cliffs golf courses is giving a third swing in a possible development that would include part of the West Mabou Beach Provincial Park, land protected by law and has previously been considered outside the limits for such proposals.
The Minister of Natural Resources, Tory Rushton, told journalists in the province of the province on Thursday that the representatives of the Cape Breton team have come to the province “with some ideas.”
“We will have a conversation and see what happens,” he said.
“We have been very clear about this mandate: if a proponent arrives in the province with an idea that can bring an economic benefit, well -paid jobs and something for the Holders of New, then we will have a conversation, and that is where we are now.”
Rushton and Prime Minister Tim Houston gave a different tone two years ago.
Previous attempts
When Rushton learned in 2023 that the company was looking to request a lease of the crown land in the hope of building a third 18 -hole golf course, he told the company not to bother. At that time, it was determined that there was no option in the Provincial Parks Law to allow a golf course to be developed within a park.
A week after that, Prime Minister Tim Houston’s office issued a statement saying that there were no plans to eliminate the protected designation of the park.
On Thursday, Rushton could not say if the company’s proposal is different from what he pursued in the past.
A Cabot representative did not respond to a request for comments.
Nadine Hunt, who for a long time has fought to preserve the protected state of the park, said in an interview on Thursday that she is “extremely disappointed and discouraged” before the news that Cabot could be looking to challenge the protected state again.
‘They skip’
“It seems to me that Cabot, what they do is smell the political winds and when they detect that there is a possible opening at a back door or a weakness, they leave,” he said.
Hunt said the government should not be giving the company’s officials “daylight.”
A 2019 study found that the unique dunes and sand wetlands in the park contained at least 17 rare plants and animals, including four birds that appear in the provincial endangered species law.
Kyle Macquarrie, the progressive conservative MLA for Inverness and Rushton’s ministerial assistant, said in an interview in Provice House that he has spoken with voters on both sides of the subject.
“I try to listen to them, but without details it is difficult to discuss it,” he said.
MLA Local ‘ready to listen’
Macquarrie said he has not spoken with the company’s officials, although he has discussed the situation with former New Scotland Prime Minister Rodney Macdonald, whom Cabot hired several years ago to press in his name.
“We really do not discuss details about it, just the idea that something could happen or simply general ideas,” Macquarrie said.
Macquarrie, who refused to say if he believes that the earth should remain protected, said his next step would be to the canvas components about what they want.
“I am anxious to listen at this time. That is my main objective.”
Macdonald did not respond to a request for comments.
Hunt said the situation sends the message that the government cannot be trusted to maintain the protected designation in the park.
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