Collapse of industries contributed to child poverty rates in Cape Breton: political scientist

Cape Breton is struggling with poverty rates due to a lack of good-paying jobs.

The days when steelmaking and coal mining put food on Cape Breton tables are long gone.

“Some of our communities have among the highest child poverty rates in Canada, and that is almost like a hangover from the collapse in a very short time of heavy industries here in Cape Breton,” said Tom Urbaniak, a Cape Breton University political science professor.

Since the collapse of coal and steel in the 1990s and early 2000s, Island politicians have tried to attract the next big thing like port development at Sydney Harbour.

“Offshore wind energy for the most part, and other components, would create so many good-paying jobs,” said Marlene Usher, retired CEO of the Port of Sydney.

Recently, Cape Breton Regional Municipality council cut ties with an outside developer – Sydney Harbour Investment Holdings, or SHIP – that had not delivered on port plans.

However, Usher said plenty had been achieved behind the scenes and council should reconsider.

Sydney-Whitney Pier Liberal MLA Derek Mombourquette, who has lived most of his life in post-Industrial Sydney, said private investors and the jobs they might bring need the proper infrastructure.

“That’s why we’ve been advocating on the Island to reestablish rail,” said Mombourquette. “That’s why we’ve been talking about the potential of Sydney Harbour. These are opportunities that are generational for the community.”

Urbaniak said it’s fine to talk with major investors – to a point.

“If we spend a whole bunch of public money that could be invested elsewhere going after possible home runs that never materialize, our social challenges will remain and our high levels of poverty will remain,” said Urbaniak.

In 2017, a developer from off-Island wanted to build a recreational water park along the Bras d’or Lake. However, local residents were quick to shut down the idea, citing concerns it might disrupt quality of life in the area.

Usher said she has seen from wind energy talks how a ‘not in my backyard’ mentality can thwart development.

“Oh, for sure”, she said. “I mean, I think people make decisions up front before getting all of the information.”

Urbaniak suggests a basic income for the thousands of Cape Bretoners currently in poverty could end up being money reinvested in the local economy.

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