A New Protected Riding for Acadian Region of Cheticamp in Nova Scotia Passes Committee Stage

A bill that would allow the Nova Scotia government to carve out a protected riding for the Acadian region of Cheticamp has successfully passed the committee stage without any changes. This decision comes despite concerns raised by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce regarding voter parity.

The legislation was introduced in response to a ruling by the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, which found that the Charter rights of the Acadians in northwestern Cape Breton were violated when they were not considered for protected riding status back in 2019. Currently, Nova Scotia has four protected ridings that are shielded from electoral redistribution, ensuring effective representation for Acadian and African Nova Scotian voters.

The newly passed bill will enable the government to appoint a special electoral boundaries commission to establish another protected riding specifically for the Acadians. The court emphasized that Cheticamp and its surrounding areas form a cultural community of interest that warrants protected status.

However, Patrick Sullivan, the president of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, expressed concerns during a session with the legislature’s law amendments committee. Sullivan argued that a comprehensive commission should be established to examine representation issues across the entire province. He pointed out that there is currently a significant disparity in voter parity between Halifax and other regions of Nova Scotia.

Sullivan highlighted that Halifax currently holds 23 out of the 55 seats in the legislature, despite the chamber’s belief that the city should have approximately 26 seats based on its growing population. This disparity raises questions about the equitable distribution of political representation within the province.

The passage of this bill marks a significant step towards addressing the historical underrepresentation of Acadian communities in Nova Scotia. By creating a dedicated protected riding for Cheticamp, the government is taking proactive steps to uphold the rights and interests of these culturally significant groups. However, the concerns raised by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce underscore the need for a more comprehensive approach to electoral boundary review and representation issues across the province.