Pictou County residents divided by amalgamation plebiscite coming Saturday
Voting opens at 8 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m.
In a province that has seen a recent wave of municipal dissolutions and mergers, on Saturday, Pictou County residents will be first in Nova Scotia to get to vote in advance on a local amalgamation.
The plebiscite caps an often contentious debate on whether to amalgamate the towns of Pictou, Stellarton, New Glasgow and the County of Pictou.
- Pictou County files conditional amalgamation application
- Trenton and Westville won't join Pictou amalgamation
Their councils have signed a memorandum of understanding that will merge four of Pictou County's six municipalities. The towns of Trenton and Westville refused.
'It's been pushed and shoved at us'
With just hours to go it appears most have made up their minds — at least on the streets of Stellarton.
"The county has never worked together in the past and that's part of the problem we have now and why we need amalgamation," said Elizabeth Ramscar.
"They didn't do it right. It's been pushed and shoved at us," said Jim Macleod.
"I think having one voice for Pictou County," said Indira York, when asked why she is voting yes.
"I'm voting no. Because it's a money grab," said Albert Wilkerson. He said taxpayers will subsidize New Glasgow and the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
30% have already voted
Ten-thousand people — one-third of all eligible voters — have already voted at advanced polls or via computer in electronic voting.
Both supporters and opponents say it's a sign of voter engagement.
The issue has publicly divided Pictou County's elder statesmen, with longtime former Central Nova MP Elmer Mackay campaigning against amalgamation, and former premier John Hamm writing in favour.
"The proposed amalgamation of part of the county, in my opinion, is lopsidedly in favour of New Glasgow and offers little value to the other municipal partners, especially the county," MacKay wrote to the New Glasgow Evening News.
"May 28 is not a day to get even. It's a day to get better," Hamm wrote in the paper.
"This is not the time to let old rivalries and division cloud our judgement as to what is best for our future."
Pictou County's three MLA's — all Progressive Conservatives — tell CBC News they will not publicly state their position. All said it has been a rancorous and divisive contest.
For and against
Pictou County Warden Ron Baillie chairs the pro-amalgamation campaign.
He said it will result in greater efficiency and a million dollars a year in savings between the municipalities. Taxpayers, he said, will save about $54 per $100,000 of assessment.
The municipalities are seeing danger signs like negative commercial assessments, he said.
"We have to do things differently," he said..
Brian White, a financial adviser for the Towns of Westville and Trenton, is leading the No campaign.
Not about the money
White said, at this point, it's not about the numbers.
"Most people are saying a $54 tax savings, so what? That's nice but it's not a lot," White said.
"The benefits are relatively small and we think there are some big downsides. The primary one is loss of representation for the public," he said.
The warden said change is difficult to accept but opponents have no alternative.
"I don't feel they don't have no plan, they just say 'leave it alone and everything is great'. Well things aren't great," Baillie said.
Budget battle
The two sides have vastly different resources. The "No" side — operating from a storefront in downtown Stellarton — has a budget of $15,000 made up of small donations.
The municipalities have set aside $200,000 to prepare for amalgamation. The province has supplied another $600,000.
It has pledged $27 million to cover transition costs over five years.
The binding non-binding plebiscite
Brian White predicts residents in the county and the Town of Stellarton will vote down amalgamation.
Warden Baillie is also publicly confident — of a different outcome.
The results are not legally binding, but there is an expectation the councils will follow the majority.
Ron Baillie said he will respect the wishes of voters in his district, but there is nothing in the Municipal Government Act that makes the outcome binding.
"I would say there is not a a councilor out there that will vote against their people."
There are 80 polls. Voting starts Saturday at 8 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m.
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