Acadian Federation threatens electoral map lawsuit

The Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia says it intends to take the provincial government to court as soon as a new map redrawing Nova Scotia's electoral boundaries is adopted as law.

Premier Darrell Dexter announced last week that his government would move ahead with Bill 94, the act which would eliminate minority ridings.

The Acadian Federation believes minority rights are being hurt with the elimination of the protection that has been afforded to several so-called Acadian seats. Under Bill 94, those ridings will be expanded to include more non-Acadian voters, which the Federation believes will make it harder for Acadians to be elected.

"The Acadians have always been a minority in Nova Scotia," said Federation President Justin Mury. "To survive we have to have a vote. All minorities that are like that, if they don't have a voice, somewhere they eventually disappear."

But Tuesday, Dexter said he isn't worried about the threat of legal action.

"The richness of the Acadian fact in our heritage and in our society will never not be represented," he said. "It is as much stitched into the fabric of the House of Assembly as it is in the society at large and I don't think that's going to change."

Dexter said the court challenge is reminder of how wonderful it is to live in a democracy.