Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Antigonish is a Canadian town in north-eastern Nova Scotia and the

Annexation/Amalgation

The Town of Antigonish is currently embroiled in a dispute with Antigonish County over the issue of annexation/amalgamation.

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The issue primarily relates to availability of land within town boundaries. Constant development has reduced the amount of undeveloped land within the town. According to Town officials, there is no longer enough land remaining for future expansion of the town. Town officials also suggest that this lack of vacant land is forcing new development into the 'fringe area' of the county that immediately surrounds the town. In an effort to address this situation, the Town applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (a quasi-judicial body that rules on issues related to government in Nova Scotia), on May 7, 2001, for permission to annex 6,503 acres of Antigonish County.

Related Topics:
Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board - Nova Scotia

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On May 28, 2001, several weeks after the Town made its application, the County of Antigonish applied to the NSURB to amalgamate with the town. The rationale for the application, as the county cited, were adverse effects related to the loss of tax revenue from annexed lands.

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By January 2002, the town had reduced the amount of land area sought for annexation to 3,814 acres. The NSURB consolidated the two applications and a public hearing was held over the span of three weeks, from January 26 to February 11, 2004. The hearing was designed to gauge public opinion of the issue. A total of 97 members of the public spoke at the hearings, representing both sides of the issue. After the public hearings were completed, the board was left to deliberate with the evidence it had collected.

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On February 7 2005, the board released its preliminary opinion (See http://www.nsuarb.ca/newReleases/documents/NSUARB-104112v1Antigonish_AnnexationAmalgamationDecisionPDFVersion.pdf). The 213 page report stated that area residents would be best served by amalgamation. It further ordered that a plebiscite be held in the town and county, no later than September 17 2005, to determine the degree of support for amalgamation. The board would add the results of the plebiscite to the other evidence and then render a final decision.

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However, the town soon appealed the ruling. The plebiscite was postponed and the matter is still before the courts. This issue remains unresolved.

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