Ben Cowan-Dewar: Mabou and Magical Thinking
- savewestmaboubeach
- Jan 26, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 3, 2023
Lorna MacNeil goCapeBreton.com - January. 26, 2023 Full article published here
Britannica defines “magical thinking” as “the belief that one’s ideas, thoughts, actions, words, or use of symbols can influence the course of events in the material world.”
Mr. Cowan-Dewar seems to believe if he really wants to - like so, so much- build a golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park that it will cease to be a provincial park “dedicated in perpetuity for the benefit of present and future generations of Nova Scotians.” (Like the Provincial Park Act says.)
Cowan-Dewar explains that “…we are not seeking to buy the land, the province, who owns the park, would continue to own it, we would operate on top of it.”
Let me repeat this.
Cabot does not want to buy the land; they just want to operate on top of it.
It is past time for the magical thinking to meet the reality of the situation:
A provincial park is, by definition, for the people of the province – and tourists, too. You cannot chop off one-third of it and turn it into a space for only those who can pay a hefty entry fee.
Our government, in its plan titled Parks and Protected Areas , describes West Mabou Beach Provincial Park, in part, like so: Contributes to Province’s goal of protecting 12% of its land base by 2015; unique dune field; one species of bird found at the park is listed as critically imperilled and another two species vulnerable to extirpation or extinction. In addition, two species of vascular plants were listed as imperilled and one species as vulnerable to extirpation or extinction.
The plan noted above was developed by consultation with the people of Nova Scotia. At no time did anyone in government state that we will protect the habitat of threatened species of birds and plants as planned except if someone wants to build a golf course there or operate on top of part of it.
Cowan-Dewar has said that his proposed magical golf course can be built in a protected park because Cape Breton Highland Links Park is in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
Read the full article here.