HALIFAX, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is celebrating a victory for taxpayers in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia and across Canada with the news that Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development and Nova Scotia Member of Parliament, has officially rejected the proposal for $18 million tax dollars for a luxury golf course airport in Cape Breton.

“Minister Jordan deserves praise for recognizing that this luxury golf course airport is clearly not a good use of precious tax dollars,” said CTF Atlantic Director Paige MacPherson. “Taxpayers made their voices heard loud and clear on this issue and stopping this waste before it happened is a real hole-in-one.”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has collected more than 15,000 signatures on its petition opposing funding for this luxury golf course airport.

Yesterday, the CTF asked petition signers to phone Minister Jordan’s office to voice their opposition to spending taxpayers’ money on the project.

Minister Jordan’s statement rejecting the project, acquired by the CTF today, can be found here: http://www.taxpayer.com/media/airport_email_statement.JPG

The proposed airport would have been located one hour away from an existing airport in Port Hawkesbury and two hours from an airport in Sydney, shortening the commutes of guests at the Cabot Links golf resort by a one-hour drive.

“The wealthy golf course owners were wrong to demand tax dollars, particularly coming from a fund that would otherwise go toward road repairs or food security in rural communities and First Nations,” said MacPherson. “We’re thankful that Minister Jordan recognizes that lining the pockets of wealthy golf course owners isn’t what federal infrastructure dollars should be used for.

“This sets a powerful precedent and shows that when taxpayers really take a stand, politicians listen.”

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