PHOTO BY BLAKE PRIDDLE
The community group Let Antigonish Decide held a town hall at St James Untied Church in Antigonish last night. This gave residents a chance to voice their opinions and ask questions about the proposed consolidation of The Municipality of The County of Antigonish and the Town of Antigonish.
According to a news release from Let Antigonish Decide, Mayor Laurie Boucher and Warden Owen McCarron revealed a previously undiscussed plan to dissolve the Town, a move that some feel is being done to avoid an increase in RCMP policing costs. “This is not what the consultants brought to the residents at any point.” Says Town Resident Chad Brazier. “There is so much we simply don’t know like what major impacts this new path toward a merger will have on many critical issues, from the make-up and structure of a united council; to the funding of the fire departments to possible layoffs and severance; to water, sewer, waste, snow removal and electrical management. These are burning questions that beg to be addressed.”
Many in attendance did not approve of the consolidation while others were unsure. Some were concerned that if consolidation went ahead and the town dissolved, taxes in the County could increase. “The whole question of losing the town of Antigonish is based on a contract with the RCMP, I don’t think that’s enough of a concern to justify giving up the name The Town of Antigonish.” Says longtime resident and town hall attendee Claire MacDonald.
Most of those at the town hall and other community members agree that having a plebiscite vote to determine if residents are in favour of consolidation or not is the best way to have their voices heard so that they know that elected officials are listening. Some believe that the public engagement processes conducted by both communities reached less then 10 percent of the population and some people were not able to attend in person public hearings on consolidation due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Most elected officials have not supported the idea of a plebiscite vote but Antigonish County Councillor of Havre Boucher, Aulds Cove, Harris Mcnamara is in favour of having a plebiscite and he submitted a petition with over 1500 signatures of community members that called for a plebiscite. Mcnamara attended the town hall and answered questions from other attendees.
Let Antigonish Decide, previously held other town halls on the proposed consolidation. The group members are not necessarily opposed to the idea of consolidation as there are members from all over the political spectrum. But like many community members they are putting pressure on both the town and county to run a plebiscite vote. The group will continue to post updates on their events and activities on their Facebook group.
