Rural voices
Islanders gather at legislature to protest province’s amalgamation/annexation policies
Manoeuvring a lumbering John Deere farm tractor through some of Charlottetown’s narrow streets is not something Patrick Walsh ever thought he would do, but that’s where the Georgetown-area farmer found himself Tuesday.
“First time ever – it was a little nerve-wracking,” he said, after parking his vehicle outside the legislature.
“Some of the side streets are not really made for farm tractors. We were getting some pretty interesting looks from people on the sidewalks for sure.”
Walsh and his family drove two of their tractors to the capital in order to participate in the Rally for Democracy, an event organized by Islanders opposed to amalgamation in the Three Rivers area in eastern P.E.I. and elsewhere across P.E.I.
“We’ve been fighting this whole amalgamation thing for a long time now. The government doesn’t seem to want to listen and don’t think our voices matter, so we figured if we showed up with some tractors it might open their eyes a bit and show them that we’re not going to sit down and let them push us into doing what they want,” said Walsh.
The event was timed to coincide with the start of the evening sitting of the legislature, and many MLAs stopped on their way into the Coles building to listen to the speakers. A crowd of supporters gathered at the steps of the building, many carrying signs showing their opposition to amalgamation in the Three Rivers and elsewhere.
Sylvia Teasdale of Burnt Point was of the event organizers, many of whom are involved in the group Rural Coalition of P.E.I., which used to be known as Unincorporated Islanders.
Teasdale said she was delighted with the rally and how it turned out.
“You can feel the support and for everyone who was here, that will touch 10 or 15 more people,” said Teasdale.
“The end result, as far as I’m concerned, is to have some kind of tip-to-tip rural coalition,” she said.
Teasdale said members of her group are working to raise funds to pay a retained lawyer to represent them at the Island Regulator and Appeals Commission (IRAC), which the Three River amalgamation proposal is currently before.
“We have to fight this process, and that means being represented at IRAC and filling out as many of those objection forms as possible – taking it through the entire process and if the government persists then we will look for every opportunity to challenge this court. My end game is to take this to the next election and let the people decide,” said Teasdale.
At the end of the rally, Teasdale yielded the podium to Richard Brown, minister of communities, land and environment, whose mandate includes the amalgamation file.
Brown called the amalgamation process outlined in the new Municipalities Act “a great process” that allows communities to have their voices heard.
“We’ve taken the politics out of the decision and put the process in the hands of the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC), an independent, non-partisan body,” said Brown.
The minister had to pause several times during his speech because people in the crowd were yelling over him.
“We like our communities the way they are, Brown! Leave them alone!” one person yelled.
“I can assure you that your voices will be heard at IRAC and at the cabinet table,” finished Brown.
The Three Rivers amalgamation request is currently before IRAC, which is scheduled to open the process for public consultation in the near future. IRAC will ultimately make a recommendation to provincial cabinet as to whether it should approve the request.