LETTER: Time for Premier Houston to listen to Cape Bretoners
- savewestmaboubeach
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Contributed by Kendra Coombes
The Cape Breton Post - Nov. 3, 2025
Originally published here
Cape Bretoners are speaking out, and for good reason.
There’s no doubt that we need economic development in this province. Cape Bretoners want good jobs, vibrant communities and opportunities close to home. But there’s also no doubt that our natural spaces – our pristine beaches, our rugged forests, our breathtaking coastlines – are a huge part of what makes this place so special.
Earlier this month, NDP Leader Claudia Chender was in Cape Breton and met with community members in Mabou. They told us clearly: putting our public parks at risk to satisfy private interests is a slippery slope. West Mabou Beach Provincial Park is a community gathering place, an ecological treasure and an important part of what makes Cape Breton such a wonderful place to live. When governments entertain the idea of carving up a protected park for private development, it sends a message that nothing is truly off limits.
Just a few short years ago, Premier Tim Houston – then in Opposition – was one of the loudest voices condemning the Liberal government for considering the sale of Owls Head for a golf course. He called it “despicable” and said he would “never allow this type of situation to happen under my watch.”
Now, as premier, he’s backing away from that position – refusing to rule out the same kind of deal at West Mabou Beach that his government rejected only two years ago. This is deeply disappointing, especially coming from someone who once spoke so passionately about the importance of protecting our shared protected areas.
We all want economic growth, but not at the expense of the very places that draw people here in the first place. Tourism built around our natural beauty is economic development. And if private developers want to build a golf course, there’s other options to choose from.
West Mabou Beach belongs to the people of Cape Breton. It’s time for Premier Houston to listen to Cape Bretoners, keep his word, and make it clear that protected land is protected – full stop.
Kendra Coombes
NDP MLA
Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier