Halifax business community says city deserves three more seats in N.S. Legislature

The Nova Scotia government has taken a significant step towards rectifying the voting rights and electoral representation of Acadians in the region of Chéticamp. A bill that would establish a protected riding for this community has passed the committee stage without any changes, following a Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruling that deemed the exclusion of Chéticamp from protected riding status in 2019 as a violation of Charter rights.

The legislation allows for the appointment of a special electoral boundaries commission to create a fourth protected riding for Acadians, recognizing Chéticamp and its surrounding areas as a cultural community of interest. This move comes after the court’s decision highlighted the need for fair representation and effective voice for the Acadian population in northwestern Cape Breton.

However, concerns have been raised by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce regarding voter parity, especially in comparison to Halifax. Chamber president Patrick Sullivan emphasized the importance of ensuring equal representation across the province, pointing out the disparity in the number of seats held by Halifax in relation to its population growth. Sullivan suggested that Nova Scotia should have fewer ridings overall, with Halifax having a greater percentage of them to address this issue of voter parity.

Currently, Nova Scotia has four protected ridings, including three Acadian ridings and one African Nova Scotian riding. The exclusion of Chéticamp from the list in 2019 led to a court challenge by the Federation acadienne de la Nouvelle-Ecosse, underscoring the urgency of addressing these voting rights concerns.

Federation president Denise Comeau-Desautels emphasized the need for the government to act swiftly and thoroughly in light of the court’s ruling, ensuring that the rights of all Nova Scotians are respected. Beyond just adding another Acadian seat in the legislature, the creation of a new riding for Chéticamp signifies the recognition of their unique concerns, culture, and community needs.

With the changes to the House of Assembly Act, a commission will be appointed within 30 days of the act coming into effect to oversee the establishment of the new protected riding for Chéticamp. This move is seen as a crucial step towards upholding the rights and representation of Acadians in Nova Scotia, addressing longstanding issues of voter parity and ensuring equitable voice in the provincial legislature.