‘We knew it could be divisive’
Antigonish town, county vote to consolidate
To loud jeers and boos, Antigonish town and county councils both narrowly voted to accept a process that will see them become one municipality.
“Let us vote” and “plebiscite” were the chants chosen by the 150 citizens who crammed into the county council chambers and hall outside to pressure councillors during an Oct. 20 special council meeting.
Before voting against the motion to seek the province’s passing of special legislation to consolidate the town and county, county Coun. Mary Maclellan said as she canvassed her constituents she kept a tally of who was for and who was against.
“I found I needed a third column as the majority I heard from were not against consolidation but were against the process,” said Maclellan.
In the months leading up to the vote, a growing concerned citizens movement called for the consolidation matter to be put to a vote, complained that consolidation hadn’t been up for discussion during the last municipal elections, and criticized the extensive consultation process as a sales pitch.
After two county councillors declared conflicts of interest — Harris Macnamara, District 9, stating he was being forced to declare the conflict against his wishes, and District 4 Councillor Shawn Brophy — the remaining councillors voted five in favour (Bill Macfarlane, District 10; Remi Deveau, District 5; Donnie Macdonald, District 2; Hughie Stewart, District 3; and Warden Owen Mccarron, District 6) and three against (Gary Mattie, District 8; Mary Maclellan, District 1; and John Dunbar, District 7).
On Main Street in the town, a large crowd honked horns and called out, while about 60 people filled the chambers where councillors voted 4-3 in favour of dissolving the 133-year-old town into the county. Mayor Laurie Boucher, Deputy Mayor William Cormier, Andrew Murray and Mary Farrell voted in favour while Sean Cameron, Donnie Macinnis and Diane Roberts voted against the motion.
County Warden Owen Mccarron and Boucher had argued plebiscites are divisive and through their 22 open houses, online forums, phone line for people to share their views, and opportunities for written submissions, they had listened to the will of the people.
“This is not about me … this is about putting the community in a position where we’re relevant, sustainable on our own and won’t be victim to another level of government putting us in a position we don’t want to be in,” Mccarron said after the vote.
By his side was Boucher, who came to the county building for a joint news conference after the votes.
She said she was pleased with the vote and reiterated consolidation would not precipitate a tax rate raise for anyone.
“We explored that early on,” said Boucher. “… We can’t say taxes won’t go up, there are many other external factors, gas prices, the price of tar, but we do know that if they do go up it won’t be because of consolidation.”
Antigonish town and county both have some of the lowest commercial and residential tax rates in the province.
Boucher also said the consolidation process won’t lead to layoffs, but is instead about “expanding capacity.”
Mccarron said they expect the provincial government to pass legislation to consolidate the municipalities in the spring. A transition committee will be struck to create a reformed municipality by 2025. The move will require the existing councils to stay on for an extra six months, beyond when their terms were to expire in 2024.
Asked about the divisions and protests, Boucher said, “The job of leaders at this point is bringing our communities back together. We knew it could be divisive, that people have polarizing views. If we see 150 people out of 20,000 (protesting), and there were some friendly faces in the crowd who kept quiet, you don’t ignore that. What both the warden and I need to do now is bring both communities together and prove to them that this will be a good thing.”