By letter dated Jan. 24, 2024, Minister John Lohr requested an updated vote by the councils as to whether they still want to proceed with their requests for special legislation for consolidation. He asked for a response by Feb. 23, stating that the spring session of the Legislature opens on Feb. 27.
Why is Minister Lohr rushing to this action?
The last date to register an appeal of the Dec. 5, 2023, decision of Justice Timothy Gabriel, is Jan. 31, 2024. At the beginning of the fall session of the Legislature, the government position was that they were refraining from considering special legislation for Antigonish and allowing “due process” before the courts.
The appeal of the trial judge’s decision is part of that process, and the time has not expired. Legal counsel has determined that there are several errors in law and, with due respect to the trial judge’s analysis and decision, that decision is being appealed.
Given the considerable discourse and public engagement on this subject, we know a professional poll, conducted by a reputable national firm, confirmed that 70.4 per cent of the people of Antigonish town and county believe that they should have a vote on changes in governance of their communities.
It also revealed that 75.5 per cent of residents said that the mayor, warden, and councillors who voted for a merger without holding a vote of residents would potentially face defeat in the next election; and that 71.9 per cent would be less likely to vote for their PC MLAs and premier in the next election.
Based on petitions signed by approximately 25 per cent of the voting population of Antigonish town and county, the residents are demanding a vote on any potential merger. I do not understand why Minister Lohr would ask the councils to affirm their vote and not allow the October 2024 municipal elections to decide this issue by the people.
On Jan. 29, 30, and 31, the county is having scheduled community meetings on the boundary reviews that were supposed to have been completed by December 2022. On Jan. 30, meetings are scheduled for Lakevale at 3 p.m. and at Heatherton for 6:30 p.m.
Despite this very late boundary review process, the mayor and warden have given councillors notice of an emergency electronic meeting on Jan. 30, to hold a vote of the councillors in response to Minister Lohr’s request.
It’s unknown if all councillors can attend on short notice. Some of the public may be able to attend electronically if they have electronic access. What is the emergency when Minister Lohr allowed 30 days for a response to his letter?
This process is proof of another example of the democratic decline in politics.
I truly hope that Premier Tim Houston has the professional integrity to stand by his position in the Legislature on Feb. 27, 2018, when, on behalf of his constituents in Pictou, he said, the provincial government was obsessed with amalgamation.
“First it was the Health Authority, then it was the school boards, and now they’re pushing through the concept of municipal modernization,” Houston said at the time. “Any change to our governance structure should start with the people – what the people want.”
We agree with your 2018 statements Premier Tim Houston.
Anne-Marie Long
Tracadie