Statement on Changes to Legislation to Support Antigonish Consolidation

NOTE: The following is a statement by John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

We will always listen and do our best to get things right. We heard a lot of voices over the last few weeks on Bill 407 – the Antigonish Consolidation Act.

First and foremost, we cannot lose sight of the fact that both town and county councils voted in favour of consolidation. In fact, they voted in favour twice. Local municipal councils are a voice for the people, and they shouldn’t be ignored. As the provincial government, we do our best to respect their authority.

At the same time, during the law amendments committee stage of debate, residents raised reasonable concerns about the bill. These concerns also cannot be ignored.

As such, we will be putting forward several amendments to the bill in an effort to address concerns.

The most common feedback was that many residents didn’t feel they had enough information about the financial impact of consolidation on their tax rate. We agree that residents should have confidence this consolidation is in their financial best interest. As a result, under the bill, we are requiring the Utility and Review Board to undertake an independent analysis and report back on whether consolidation is in the best interests of residents in both town and county. They must report to the public no later than August 1, 2024. If the UARB does not find the consolidation to be in the financial best interests of residents, it will not go forward.

Another concern we heard was that the presence of elected municipal officials – who may seek elected office under the consolidated framework – on the transition committee represented a conflict of interest. We agree that, at the very least, there was a perception of conflict and the individual leading any transition should be neutral. We are therefore amending the bill to exclude local elected members from the transition committee, and instead, appointing a UARB liaison and co-ordinator for transition, should the transition go forward.

Michel Samson, former Liberal cabinet minister, government house leader and current counsel at Cox & Palmer, will be appointed to this role.

We believe that these amendments respond to concerns raised by residents while still maintaining a path, albeit a difficult path, for the municipal councils to achieve the goal of their two consolidation votes.