'Secrecy' killed it: Two members resign from Three Rivers amalgamation talks after lopsided plebiscite

Members of the unincorporated areas of Georgetown fire district say they officially want out of amalgamation talks and are taking steps to remove themselves from the process.

John Walsh and Ray Brow, Georgetown fire district representatives on the Three Rivers steering committee, recently resigned from the amalgamation process following the result of a community plebiscite earlier this week.

• Privately-sponsored plebiscite overwhelmingly rejects Three Rivers amalgamation
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The results of that plebiscite — which asked residents from unincorporated areas of eastern P.E.I. whether they were for or against amalgamation — showed 94 per cent of voters, or 1,174 out of 1,250, are against amalgamation.

"I'm resigning because the people spoke. They spoke very clearly what they want," Walsh said.

"That's very clear and as far as we're concerned we don't want to go any further."

Amalgamation process began several years ago

The process to amalgamate communities in eastern P.E.I. began several years ago but the official proposal came to light in October 2017. 

The proposal would see Montague, Cardigan and Brudenell and other communities in eastern P.E.I. join together to create the Island's fourth largest municipality — with a population of at least 7,000 people. 

• 3 things about Three Rivers: What you need to know about amalgamation Down East
• 'It's not for us': Georgetown pulls out of amalgamation talks

Walsh's resignation from the steering committee now means Georgetown's surrounding areas joins the town itself in bowing out of amalgamation talks.

He estimates the reason residents are overwhelmingly against amalgamation is due to the committee's lack of transparency.

"It was the secrecy that really killed it, people got to know what's going on," he said.

"The government or the steering committee …. should come up with some different solutions because these certainly didn't fly."

Brian Harding, chair of the Three Rivers steering committee, says it was expected that Walsh and Brow would resign and that "it's not going to stop the process from going forward."

The steering committee said there will be public meetings held and an application must be made to the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission.

IRAC would then present recommendations to government before any amalgamation can go ahead.

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