Controversial land sale in CBRM to be reviewed by RCMP

The RCMP is set to investigate a controversial land sale in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

A controversial land sale in Cape Breton which has had many Cape Breton Regional Municipality councillors feeling blindsided is about to become an RCMP matter.

In a spirited discussion during a council meeting Tuesday, councillors debated the sale of a piece of land seen by some as key to any potential future port development at Sydney Harbour.

The undercurrent of the debate, however, was about communication and trust at City Hall.

Last week, District 2 Councillor Earlene MacMullin took issue with the sale of the land at Sydport Industrial Park to a group led by Montreal-based port promoter, Albert Barbusci.

She and other councillors voiced the sale happened without their knowledge or input.

On Tuesday, CBRM chief administrative officer, Dmitri Kachefanas, admitted things could have been handled differently.

However, he said the outcome would not have changed as the sale of the land was binding to an agreement made by a previous council in 2015.

Still, all 11 councillors in attendance on Tuesday spoke about feeling left in the dark, contending the deal going ahead without their knowledge or input spoke to deeper communication and trust issues.

Eventually, District 1 Councillor Gordon MacDonald put forth a motion of his own.

“Be it resolved that Council requests the Royal Canadian Mounted Police assess the circumstances of the Sydport transaction to determine whether further investigation is warranted, that the referral be made without allegation, and supported by all relevant documentation,” MacDonald said while putting forth his motion.

“(That) staff be directed to compile all materials necessary to support a complete review and council pursue paralegal, legal, administrative review as appropriate.”

MacDonald’s motion was carried, with the only dissenting vote coming from District 4 Councillor, Steve Gillespie.

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