CBRM ends relationship with group tasked with developing Sydney Harbour

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality has ended talks with a company that was looking to develop Sydney Harbour.

After a more than decade-long partnership, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has ended talks with a company that had been looking to develop Sydney Harbour.

Sydney Harbour Investment Partners (SHIP) is headed up by Montreal-area businessman Albert Barbusci and had an exclusive contract with CBRM between 2015 and 2024 to develop a parcel of land to build a container terminal.

In 2023, the group announced plans to build a wind farm in Sydney Harbour which also did not happen.

A council vote Tuesday night on whether to continue negotiations with SHIP ended in a tie with CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke explaining afterward according to parliamentary procedure a tie vote means the motion is defeated.

Some in the community are now calling for the matter to go to public tender.

“After 10 years of a contract that’s not been tendered and not seen the light of day, there’s a chance that we’re now going to go through a formal, professional, transparent process”, said Erika Shea, CEO of New Dawn Enterprises.

One of the councillors who voted to continue negotiations with SHIP also spoke with CTV Atlantic on Wednesday.

“I voted the way I did last night because I believe we have a tremendous opportunity in front of us”, said Councillor Eldon MacDonald.

“There has been a lot of time and effort gone into this process and I think we should have continued with our negotiations to see through to get a new agreement. Especially with the wind element that’s being discussed within our harbour. It’s, I think, a time-sensitive thing and Premier Tim Houston is moving forward with that. I would hope that we could work with our province to be able to move forward with a project in our community.”

CTV Atlantic attempted to reach Barbusci for comment on Wednesday but did not hear back by news deadline.

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