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West Mabou: Here We Go Again!

West Mabou: Here We Go Again!

Cabot Golf is teeing up for another attempt to buy West Mabou to expand their business. Last time this happened CCTF and members showed up in force to say no to the acquisition and we are calling on you to do it again.

As Kate Beaton remarked in their piece to the Oran “it looks like Cabot has been working with the government behind closed doors, since going through the community didn't work last time. It's clear from the October 3rd CBC article that things have been happening, that "conversations" have already been happening.The same Houston government that drew a hard line in 2023 is waffling in their statements. The deceit of it is distasteful. There are already staked markers from the Department of Natural Resources on the beach. Cabot can say, as they did back then, that they are just gauging interest, but the website for this specific golf course is up as though it was a reality.”

In the same article Kate puts its nicely that “...the community is not against a golf course in Mabou. When it comes to West Mabou Beach Provincial Park, dissenters are often maligned as people who hate progress. But what people are against is a golf course on protected public land, the leasing of a natural resource provincial park to a corporation who can talk about environmental stewardship all they want, but at the end of the day are a corporation who are literally trying to build a golf course on sand dunes. They are beholden to shareholders, not the community. And they keep coming back to this piece of land instead of buying private land like everyone else has to. "

This past week ACAP put out a call to action and we hope you will all take up that call:

Hello ACAP Cape Breton members and friends,

I am reaching out to you today to ask you directly for help in protecting West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.

West Mabou Beach is a place of sweeping dunes and beautiful cliffs, warm ocean waters and networked hiking trails. Expert surveys commissioned by the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Parks And Wilderness Society identified 18 rare species in the park, 10 birds, and 8 plants and lichens. It is unusual to find such biodiversity in a relatively small space.

Cabot Cape Breton is once again forcing us to fight for the protection of this special place. (If you’re not up to date on the latest developments, see this recent CBC article.)

Nova Scotia has committed to the goal of protecting 20% of its lands and waters by 2030. In the last four years, we have barely moved the needle. And now we’re going to slide backwards? Biodiversity protection is not just for tree-huggers. It’s for a sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. It’s about being good ancestors.

What can you do to help?

Please take a moment to email and/or call the Minister of Natural Resources, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Premier and your MLA, as well as the MLA for the area:

Talking points:

  • I’m a citizen who would like to register my concern about the potential development of a golf course on protected provincial land.
  • West Mabou Beach Provincial Park has high biodiversity and is home to rare species. Even the best managed golf course threatens their habitat. 
  • Biodiversity commitments are important to safeguard the lands and waters for our children and grandchildren. Why has NS stalled in its progress toward protected lands and areas?
  • Endangered piping plovers nest on the beaches at this park. There are only 40 pairs of Piping plovers remaining in all of Nova Scotia, and West Mabou Beach Provincial Park is formally listed as Critical Habitat. 
  • Feel free to share why it’s important to you, personally. 
  • If you would like to share your thoughts with us, please reach out to me: ed@acapcb.ns.ca

Published by:

Climate Change Task Force

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