SUMMERSIDE – Prince Edward Island now has three new municipalities, including one in Prince County.
On Tuesday, provincial cabinet approved amalgamation recommendations from the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission (IRAC) to create the new municipalities of Central Prince (Ladyslipper and Ellerslie-Bideford), North Shore and Three Rivers.
Earlier this year, the mayors of Ellerslie-Bideford and Ladyslipper discussed amalgamation of the two areas. In the process, a number of public meetings were held to obtain feedback from residents of the areas.
Prior to the creation of the Rural Municipality of Central Prince, Ladyslipper was comprised of Harmony, Victoria West, Springhill, Enmore and Portage. Now the new region includes those areas well as North Enmore, Mount Pleasant, Inverness, McNeills Mills and Ellerslie-Bideford.
“It could be a good idea… but it could also be a bad one,” said Ellerslie business owner Brian Dennis.
Dennis has had a business in the area for a number of years.
“I don’t know much about the topic, but it could have economic impacts and business impacts. Those are all very big ‘coulds’.”
Communities Minister Richard Brown said: “The creation of strong municipalities will enable them to deliver quality services to residents and address opportunities and challenges that communities and rural areas face. We look forward to continuing to support community leadership and residents.”
Long-time resident of the Ellerslie area Myron (Sonny) Hutchinson said he wasn’t exactly for amalgamation.
“In this case they’re going to do what they’re going to do. I think it was great the way it was. [Amalgamation] could mean more taxes for us, so I’m really not for it.”
Hutchinson’s son sat on the council for Ellerslie-Bideford prior to the creation of Central Prince.
Wayne MacKinnon, the media relations representative for the provincial government, said while the new municipality of Central Prince doesn’t necessarily meet the population stipulation that has faced communities in the past, government is encouraged that the municipality is eager to welcome other surrounding areas.
“There are three designations for communities looking to amalgamate: city, town and rural municipality. So, while Central Prince doesn’t quite fit the population number, it does have a population of 1,112 people, which is near it. So, it fits the other criteria of a rural municipality.”
Most recently, representatives from the Community of Bedeque sought to expand their borders after the amalgamation of Bedeque and Central Bedeque.
After joining the two communities the municipality had 310 residents.
MacKinnon says while population numbers had a factor in the Bedeque ruling, the community also applied under the old Municipalities Act.
“With the new act, the communities may not be under the same rules allowing for a different decision.”
With the amalgamation approvals, the new boundaries of Three Rivers are the already existing fire districts of Montague, Georgetown and Cardigan.
The original proposal was amended to exclude all or portions of the unincorporated communities of Kinross, Bellevue, Grandview, Riverton, Martinvale, Corraville, Cardross and Glenfanning.
Meanwhile, the Rural Municipality of North Shore will include the communities of North Shore, Grand Tracadie and Pleasant Grove.
The incoming interim mayors of these municipalities have endorsed cabinet’s decision.
“We feel this is the best decision moving forward and certainly are open to other areas joining us in the future,” said Rodd Millar, the interim mayor for the Rural Municipality of Central Prince.
Elections for the municipalities’ new councils will be held on Nov. 5
Amalgamations are being carried out under the provisions of the new Municipal Government Act. Active discussions are ongoing in other areas of the province.
