Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island has a Jong history of community economic levelopment (CED) initiatives for which it is nationally recognized. While CED rncompasses a range of forms and philosophies, the term commonly refers to 'grassroots" undertakings that celebrate local knowledge and action. Yet, as his paper shows, key local spokespersons argue that die Island's "culture of kpendency," though bom of capitalist exploitation, undermines effective folk nvolvement in economic development. Their position is reminiscent of die clasic but problematic "culture of poverty" argument. Thus, ironically, a purport-My left'of'Center orientation turns to victim blaming. An interrogation of this vxious stance suggests that it serves not as a defensible representation of recent dstory, but rather as legitimation for leadership, [poverty, ideology, community conomic devebpment, Atlantic Canada]