Antigonish consolidation arguments flow
Legislature hears views on amalgamation
The Nova Scotia legislature was inundated with Antigonishers on Monday.
The law amendment hearings into Bill 407, the Antigonish Consolidation Act, were the last chance for public input into the legislation to join Antigonish town and county into one municipal unit before the majority Progressive Conservative government brings it to a vote.
Among the requested amendments of those who spoke against the legislation as it stands were for an independent study into the pros and cons of consolidation, a plebiscite be held and that the matter get pushed back until after this fall’s municipal elections.
Most of those seeking changes to the legislation said they aren’t necessarily opposed to consolidation itself but argued that the process didn’t provide enough information on its impact or allow residents to have a vote.
“With this lack of confidence and trust in the present municipal leaders, I ask for a delay in the appointment of transition team members until after a municipal election is held, allowing residents of Antigonish to elect a council that they have confidence in,” said Terry Penny, an Antigonish County resident who travelled to Halifax to present.
Municipal leaders from around the province and current and former mayors and wardens of the town and county, meanwhile, all made submissions in favour of the merger.
“As a small but pointed example, every time our CAOS are in the same room together it costs the taxpayers of our community about $185 per hour and they estimate they spend about a third of their time in the same room coordinating between the two municipalities,” said Warden Owen Mccarron.
“That’s close to $150,000 per year in redundancy associated just with that particular item. This duplication can be found throughout our organizations. This isn’t an exercise to slash services and staff. But it is an exercise to reduce duplication, right-size our organization, enhance services by dedicating appropriate resources and create more value for our residents.”
Mccarron, along with town Mayor Laurie Boucher, defended not going to a plebiscite, arguing they are elected to make decisions in the best interests of residents.
They had the support of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and other mayors, like Mayor Pam Mood of Yarmouth.
“In the face of everything I watched you go through, the hate talk, vitriol, harassment, outright abuse that in my view should have led to charges, they’ve stood their ground,” said Mood.
“It speaks to their integrity. Governments on all levels have challenging decisions to make every single day. You will never please everyone, it’s impossible.”
The counterpoint to that offered by those in opposition was that while municipal leaders are elected to make decisions, residents want a say when the fundamental structure of government is being changed.
“We have a right to be informed, we have a right to vote before you decide something as significant as dissolving a community with such a history, a vibrant downtown and a wonderful meeting place for all who share their lives in the town and county of Antigonish,” said Antigonish County resident Noreen Nunn.
“You cannot say this will be a positive move without demonstrating how and why that will happen.
“Municipal reform may be necessary, but what is the hurry in this case? These are both successful communities.”