Antigonish Mayoral Race: A Breakdown
/On October 19th, 2024, Antigonish will decide whether Sean Cameron or Emilie Chiasson will be its new mayor after incumbent Laurie Boucher decided not to run for reelection. This is happening alongside the election of what is expected to be several new faces to town council. Being as entwined with the town as our university is, we at the Xaverian Weekly thought it would be prudent to inform students and everyone else reading what’s at stake in this election, and remind them to get out and vote if they're eligible and willing to declare Antigonish and Nova Scotia their primary residence.
To this end, I was able to get a hold of both mayoral candidates one-on-one and ask them some pressing questions potential voters may have.
Question 1: What are your main concerns?
Cameron:
“Infrastructure, water, sewer, streets.”
Chiasson:
“My main goals will be to form an effective council that will work on a strategy together to work on the main pressing things: being our streets, sidewalks and sewer. Those are three main things that we need to look at right away. And then I want to really focus on coming up with strong communication strategies about anything that is being done in the town that involves Council or the Mayor, sharing that out with residents and I will begin right away forming good relationships with county council as well and whomever ends up being Warden for the county, because it's really an important piece of success in Antigonish and local government and as well as federal government, because we're very likely going to need to get federal government to solve some of our infrastructure issues.”
Question 2: Why should students vote for you?
Cameron:
“I would hope that during your time here, in Antigonish that the town has presented and given you opportunity to meet with the citizens, see how a small town operates in conjunction and in partnership with StFX, and see how this is town has grown. The students and town people can work together to ensure that you guys have a great experience, and the town can provide you with the safety and the adequate amenities required to have a safe and prosperous four years to complete your degree.”
Chiasson:
“I think that it's really important because the students are a big part of the community. There's lots of issues within the town that are directly related to students. You know, students dealing with landlords, bylaws, garbage removal, recreation, and volunteering. There's lots of ways (to volunteer). I think having a more involved student body leads to better relationships between the town and StFX, which has historically sometimes been a bit of complicated relationship, and I would be really interested in having a committee that would meet with Town Council, with students on it, just hear what you have to say, like what your concerns are. I spoke to some students the other day, and they said that they don't have a working bathroom in their house right now. Oh, wow. Sometimes people spin it that students cause problems, but it can be the exact opposite. Sometimes there's landlords and other people that also need to step up and be better neighbors.
Question 3: What’s your position on amalgamation?
Cameron:
“As a sitting town councilor, I was one of three opposing this rushed consolidation without any input from citizens. I demanded, from the onset, a plebiscite be held and that information sessions present pros and cons and clearly identified issues associated with everything. They failed to do that, in my opinion, and as a result, the premier ended up pulling the plug on the whole consolidation issue. Okay, great. Interesting note, my (opposing) mayoral candidate was in support of this rushed consolidation, both by in print and in video, and in presenting to the Law Amendments to Halifax that she felt that the nine elected people who voted for this were within their rights to dissolve the town without any financial implications or complete study done on the impacts of the town and county residents.”
Here Sean references Emilie’s support for consolidation in an email to the Law Amendments Committe on March 3, 2024. Her words at the time were:
“I would like to express my support for the consolidation of the Town and County of Antigonish... Town and County Councils have been voted in to make decisions on behalf of their constituents and we must trust in their decisions. [The Councils] have asked for the two municipal units to be consolidated, and I fully support that.”
Back to the interview...
Chiasson:
“Well, I don't see it as being a topic that's going to be on the table in the near future, and if it does come back up, it's not my job to decide it for people and we would have a vote plain and simple.”
(End interview)
This past Tuesday, October 8th, members of the community had a chance to listen to the mayoral candidates engage in a debate on their positions and view of the future of the town. I encourage those interested in voting to check out the livestream on the Student Union’s YouTube, because I’ll only be providing a brief recap.
Right out of the gate Emilie Chiasson came out strong in her introduction, making connections with people in the crowd, showing great public speaking ability and seeming comfortable. Sean Cameron seemed less comfortable speaking to the large audience. He read his introduction from his notes.
Cameron’s introduction began with his extensive roots in the town and connection to the school, as well as the importance of students. He then went into his plan for improving infrastructure, noting the need for a new water supply, the aging sewer plant, and accessibility issues. During his opening, Cameron emphasized that without capable infrastructure, developers are unable to build new houses (including affordable housing) for the growing population. He mentioned his 31-year career with the department of community services, and that his 20 years on town council would enable him to guide the incoming council of mostly newly elected counselors.
Chiasson gave a strong introduction, starting by connecting with the crowd. She gave a shoutout to incumbent mayor Laurie Boucher, alongside all those running for council in attendance, made eye contact with the audience, and commanded the room. She then went on to detail her extracurriculars during her time at StFX, and then her previous career with StFX as a Senior Fund Development Executive, before moving on to being the Manager of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving. She also won the StFX Young Alumnus of the Year in 2020. The next part of her introduction focused on different ways students benefit the town, including some interesting facts. Did you know over 1000 StFX students volunteer in the community every year? Chiasson emphasized the need to work with students and the university.
Overall, Cameron seemed to have more substance to his answers. He knew more about town operations in the past, as to be expected of someone with a slogan like “20 years of experience.” His proposals were ambitious, like the idea that Antigonish might build a new Rec Centre with a daycare to retain medical workers for St. Martha’s, and proposing that the town could become the first in the country to achieve net-zero emissions with its new wind farm. He focused on what the council did during his tenure, like building the library on Main Street and securing $5 million to maintain the sewer plant a few years ago. He also really hammered home the need to strengthen infrastructure to enable growth. Again, Cameron’s answers were mostly read from his notebook, although he started addressing the audience more directly toward the end.
Chiasson, on the other hand, was the stronger public speaker, almost never looking at her notes while speaking. She agreed that infrastructure issues were a major issue impeding growth, put an even greater emphasis on the sewage problem and how much the town stinks, and brought up how hard it would be for developers to sell recently constructed properties to newcomers when they arrive in a town that smells the way that it has recently. She also paid greater attention to the opportunity that lies in collaboration with students and the university, in council meetings and elsewhere.
Feel free to take this next opinion with a grain of salt, as I’ve only lived here a few years, but anecdotally, being the mayor of a small town seems like a role where extensive technical knowledge may not be as important as personability and leadership ability. After all, the town already has a Chief Executive Officer who works alongside the mayor and council and whose full-time job is to run the logistics of the town.
Warning to out-of-province students from Sean Cameron:
“One thing you guys should be aware of as well as students. (If you) have an Ontario driver's license, Ontario OHIP card in Ontario student loan deal...and you sign that declaration saying you wish to vote in the town election, those three items could be jeopardized because you're now making Nova Scotia your home province, you. So, I would caution out-of-province students from voting and signing that declaration. I want them to be safe.”
I confirmed this with the returning officer, Allan Armsworthy, although I could not find any cases of this happening.
Some important information for those looking to vote:
E-voting began on Oct. 5th, and you can vote over the phone by calling 1-877-446-5146 or online at antigonish.isivote.com.
Oct. 12th is the First Advance Poll at the Returning Office, 149 Church Street (Mall Annex). Polls will be open from 12 to 8 p.m.
Oct. 15th is the Second Advance Poll at the Returning Office, 149 Church Street (Mall Annex). Polls will be open from 12 to 8 p.m.
Oct. 19th is Election Day. Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.at Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, 105 Braemore Avenue. E-voting closes at 7 p.m.
If you have questions for Allan Armsworthy regarding your eligibility, you can call him at 902-318-3309 or email him at returningofficer@townofantigonish.ca.
The candidates running for town council are as follows.
Sarah Armstrong: sarahclaudette@gmail.com, 902-870-6519.
Travis Decoste: vote4travisdecoste@gmail.com, 902-318-8292.
Kara Kilfoil: karakilfoilforcouncil@gmail.com, 403-993-3659.
Drake Lowthers: drake.lowthers@gmail.com, 902-623-0852.
Leon MacLellan: leon4antigonish@gmail.com, 902-714-6393.
Patrick McKenna: antigonishmckenna@gmail.com, 902-318-2745.
Coline Morrow: colinemorrow123@gmail.com, 902-318-0961
Andrew Murray: andrew.murray@townofantigonish.ca, 902-968-1248
Juanita Pelly: Juanitampelly@gmail.com, 902 318 1153.
Diane Roberts: 74ladyd@gmail.com, 902-318-1284.
Jack Sullivan: sullmatt.cont@gmail.com, 902-863-5457.
