Port Hawkesbury eyes Strait of Canso municipal merger

The Town of Port Hawkesbury has passed a resolution to investigate the prospect of amalgamating with Antigonish, Guysborough, Richmond and Inverness counties, along with the Town of Mulgrave.

Port Hawkesbury's mayor, Billy Joe MacLean, says the idea makes sense given many municipalities are struggling to survive.

Due to the proximity of the towns and counties, he says there's no reason to have so many municipal staff, such as chief administrative officers, working in duplicate positions.

"In this day and age, it's ridiculous to have as many municipalities," MacLean said.

He says municipalities right across the province should follow in the footsteps of successful amalgamations in Halifax and Cape Breton.

Anticipating the future

Port Hawkesbury Councillor Trevor Boudreau says changing demographics necessitate amalgamation. 

"I'm a young father with a young family and I see... the demographics that are around and what's happening," he said. 

Port Hawkesbury's high school had 90 graduates a couple of years ago, Boudreau says, but fewer than half that number are entering Grade Primary in the local elementary school.

"The tax base is going to shrink, the number of people potentially supporting businesses in the town could shrink," he said. "It's not just how financially viable you are now, it's what you are going to look like in the future as a municipality or a region."

Later this month, the Town of Mulgrave will hold a vote on whether it should dissolve. Mayor Lorne MacDonald approves of amalgamation.

"The bigger maybe the better for the Strait area to get everybody on side and save taxpayers money, if we are all one municipal unit," he said.