By Andrew Macdonald
- Antigonish Merger: John Dunbar Would Be Future Tory MLA Questions Emergency Zoom Meeting; To Vote Against Merger
As we reported over the weekend in The Macdonald Notebook, the Town & County of Antigonish are holding an emergency meeting Tuesday (Jan 30th) to take another vote on merging town and county governments.
On Friday, Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr wrote to both the town mayor, Laurie Boucher & county warden Owen McCarron, stating he is prepared to introduce special legislation to merge both town and county governments.
He asked that both town and county hold a new vote on the merger proposal, stating time has passed since the two governments passed the merger move in 2022.
Lohr stated town and county governments should provide him with results of a new vote within 30-days time, prior to the Feb 27th opening of the NS Legislature.
Instead of waiting to discuss the merger issue at regular February counncils, both town and county governments are holding an emergency vote for Tuesday, tomorrow.
One Antigonish County Councillor is publicly asking why the rush for an emergency meeting tomorrow – why not wait for regular council meetings to conduct the merger vote.
Antigonish County councillor John Dunbar is the councillor questioning the need for an emergency meeting.
And Dunbar is also wondering why the county council administration has said it will hold a Zoom online meeting, instead of an in person council session, which would be open to the general public.
Antigonish County Councillor John Dunbar says he will vote against a merger of Antigonish County with the Town of Antigonish. He is seen as a future Tory MLA says his vote against merger is seen as significant. (County of Antigonish image).
Dunbar also states on social media he plans to vote against the merger of the county with town council.
This is significant, as Dunbar cut his teeth in Tory politics as a Tory warrior under the 1980s John Buchanan government as a Tory Youth partisan.
He is on the radar of The Macdonald Notebook as a future Tory MLA in Antigonish, which is currently represented by Tory MLA Michelle Thompson, the NS Health minister. I do not think he’d run against Thompson, but in the distant future when Thompson might not be on the Tory ticket.
“On Friday afternoon, Jan 26, Antigonish County Councillors received an email from the Municipality, giving us notice that an emergency meeting of Council had been called for Tuesday, Jan 30 at 6 pm. An agenda and supporting materials were attached. It was stated this will be a virtual meeting, held using Zoom,” states Dunbar on his social media pages.
“There will be no in person component to the meeting. The Town of Antigonish has stated on their website that they will also hold a virtual meeting by Zoom at the same time as the County is meeting,” he adds.
“The Municipality of the County of Antigonish, as well as the Town of Antigonish, received a letter dated January 24 from the Minister of Municipal Affairs, the Hon. John Lohr. Minister Lohr has asked that Municipal and Town Councils confirm their request to consolidate into one municipal unit by resolution. This would be a confirmation of the resolutions passed by both Councils in October 2022,” explains Dunbar.
“Minister Lohr stated that “If the position of the Town and County remains that you are requesting a consolidation of your units, the Province is prepared to introduce special legislation during the next session of the Legislature, commencing on February 27,” adds Dunbar.
“The Minister asked that both Councils provide the Department of Municipal Affairs with the results no later than February 23,” notes Dunbar.
Dunbar says on Sunday he emailed all County Councillors, and copied staff, with two questions.
“What is the rationale for holding an emergency meeting? Minister Lohr’s deadline is Feb 23, this vote could take place at our next meeting of Council on Feb 13,” asks Dunbar.
“Why is this meeting taking place on Zoom? Our meetings should all be public in my opinion. Zoom should be an option if an individual Councillor is unable to attend in person, or we have another situation like the pandemic on our hands,” he says.
“I also want to go on the record and state that I will be voting the same on Tuesday night as I did in October 2022, I will be voting “No” to the request that the Province create special legislation to consolidate both units into one,” adds Dunbar.
Further coverage on this issue is contained in the Notebook on Sunday, see below.
To view the Jan 24th letter from Minister Lohr to the mayor and warden, click here and a PDF file will open on your computer. Jan 24 Letter to Antigonish Town and County
For an explanation of why Antigonish town chief administrative officer, Jeff Lawrence, says a Zoom town council meeting on the vote is necessary, click here for his letter to town councillors. Letter to Council – January 26, 2024
