'It's not for us': Georgetown pulls out of amalgamation talks

The Town of Georgetown, P.E.I., is no longer at the table for talks of amalgamation. 

Council voted Monday night to cease involvement in the amalgamation process, effective immediately. The motion passed with four votes to two. All six councillors were present.

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For the past two years, the Three Rivers steering committee has been working through the process of trying to get seven communities in eastern P.E.I. to agree on a plan to amalgamate.

Monday night's vote means Georgetown is no longer part of the Three River steering committee. 

'It's not for us'

The motion was put to the floor by Coun. Cody Jenkins, then seconded, and there was considerable discussion before the vote.

Jenkins, Faye McQuillan, Cindy MacLean, and Phillip Hebert voted for the motion to pull out of involvement with the amalgamation process.

​Councillors Mark Stephen and Ronald Gallant voted against the motion. 

Jenkins says he's confident that this is for the best.

"I think it's the right thing to do for this town. I know for some of the other communities, amalgamation is the best way forward, and I wish them the best of luck. But for us, it's not for us," he said.

One of his concerns was that his area might not get as much attention as it needed with an amalgamated council.

'My first concern is Georgetown'

Coun. Hebert explained he was unhappy with how the process of amalgamation was going and how little information council was getting.

"I don't think we're getting left behind," said Hebert. "I've asked the question several times before I was on council — since I've been on council: How is this going to benefit us? And it's all about the region. I want the region to survive, and I want the region to thrive.

"However, my first concern is Georgetown, and there's no insurances that anything here is going to remain whole. If you can't give us assurances that we're going to stay the way we are now — I know status quo is not an option right now."

'It was premature'

Georgetown mayor Lewis Lavandier was the chair of the group working on amalgamation. Now, he's had to give up that position with the Three Rivers steering committee.

He says he's disappointed and worries for Georgetown's future.

"As mayor, I have to respect the decision, and we have to move on. But at the same time, I feel that, personally, it was premature," he said.

"I felt that we really should have waited for the end of the process and brought it to our residents and explained to them exactly what this could mean for our town. And I think that the residents deserved that and I thought we should have done that. Having said that, at the end of the day, I really have serious concerns on what this is going to mean for Georgetown if we're left out."

Still moving forward

Brian Harding, vice-chair of the Three Rivers steering committee, believes amalgamation will still move forward without Georgetown. 

"We're sorry that Georgetown feels that at this later stages that they have to withdraw without seeing the proposal or without their residents seeing the proposal," Harding said. 

In my opinion, it will work without Georgetown.- Brian Harding

This is the second time people from Georgetown have stepped aside from amalgamation talks. 

Last winter, Georgetown Mayor Lewis Lavandier stepped aside to focus on trying to save the town's school from closure. (No schools ended up closing in the province.)

Six communities left

Georgetown's exit leaves six communities in the amalgamation talks: Montague, Lower Montague, Brudenell, Cardigan, Valleyfield and Lorne Valley.

Harding said those communities "more than fulfill the requirements, tax-assessment-wise and population-wise, to satisfy the new Municipalities Act."

Harding said he feels positive about the process moving forward. He said the steering committee is committed to doing what is best for the Three Rivers region for economic development, planning, and bylaw enforcement. 

A final report on amalgamation that was provided to the provincial government will have to be amended to reflect Georgetown's decision, Harding said.

Report not yet public

"All we'll be doing is seeing how it works without Georgetown and, in my opinion, it will work without Georgetown."

The final report has not yet been made public. Harding said it will be released when it's completely done so everyone in the region gets the same information at the same time. 

The final report was prepared by MRSB on behalf of the steering committee. The group is waiting to see what changes or modifications have to be made. It will then be presented to elected councils and then taken to the public for public consultations.

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