"In this new reality, local communities are special interests. By contrast, wealthy private developers are altruistic partners... It might even include developer Cabot, which is reportedly taking yet another run at a luxury golf course in a provincial park (Cape Breton’s West Mabou Beach) – thus far unsolicited and without a public process."

“In a world where there’s decency and honesty and integrity, it would be unheard of that a provincial natural environment park would have to defend itself for its own status,” said local advocate Nadine Hunt. "It should be unheard of that anything like this would even be brought up.”

Inverness MLA refuses to say whether he believes West Mabou Beach Provincial Park should remain protected

"What people are against is a golf course on protected public land," writes Kate Beaton. "Private land isn’t impossible to buy. People do it every day. And if Cabot can’t find land to buy here, well, they’d be the first billionaires who couldn’t."

"MLA MacQuarrie has publicly admitted to having private discussions with former Premier MacDonald on the very topic of a Cabot golf course at West Mabou Beach," writes local resident Doug Lowry.

Anger with the Nova Scotia government is growing as Cabot Golf tees up another bid for a possible development at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. The land is protected by law and has previously been deemed out of bounds for such proposals.

"Cabot is the epitome of greed," says local resident Nadine Hunt, as Cabot comes after West Mabou Beach Provincial Park for the third time. "They care about nothing but themselves. "They don't care about the environment, or the stress levels they are causing the community, and they don't care about the legislation that's supposed to be protecting it.

From the promise of jobs to corporate donations, Gerard Naddaf digs into what he calls "the deceptive economic benefits" of golf courses

Cabot Golf is eyeing West Mabou Beach Provincial Park for possible development—for the third time

Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton confirms that his department is in talks with Cabot Links about a potential golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. The park is protected and its legal protection would likely have to be removed to go forward.

Thirty people took the trails at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park on Saturday, from toddlers to senior citizens.

The failure to take substantive action on passing strong, clear and unambiguous legislation to protect public lands against private development can still be addressed

Check out what CPAWS NS discovered during their marine biodiversity surveys at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park

Nature Nova Scotia and the Ecology Action Centre want the government to close loopholes and short-circuit future development proposals like recent ones at Owls Head and West Mabou Beach.

Nature Nova Scotia & the Ecology Action Centre are urging the provincial government to amend and strengthen the Provincial Parks Act.

“All it seemingly requires is a little bit of language change, wording to strengthen the (Provincial) Parks Act so that certain activities are just not permitted in certain parks," says Nadine Hunt, who has had to fight multiple times to keep West Mabou Beach Provincial Park protected. "I don’t think it’s a major ask, I don’t think it’s controversial and I don’t think it’s that difficult to do. I don’t know why the will is not there to do it.”

Those who opposed a proposed golf course at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park say the Provincial Parks Act needs to be updated.

Birds Canada, in collaboration with the municipality’s Recreation and Community Wellness Department, organized a walk-and-talk event to learn more about the piping plover, and the other inhabitants of the rich and diverse ecosystem of West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.

Minister Tory Rushton confirms in 2023 that the Houston Government will not allow a golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park

"West Mabou Beach made evident that the regulations surrounding the appropriate use of provincial parks are unclear and, thus, insufficient. This requires an immediate response from government given the extraordinary value of these public assets and the public harm caused by the ambiguous wording of the legislation."