Nova Scotia Creates Protected Riding for Chéticamp, Despite Parity Concerns

Nova Scotia to Create Protected Riding for Acadian Region of Chéticamp

The Nova Scotia government is moving forward with plans to create a protected riding for the Acadian region of Chéticamp. This follows a Nova Scotia Supreme Court ruling in November 2022 that found the Charter rights of Acadians in northwestern Cape Breton were violated when the community wasn't considered for protected riding status in 2019.

The legislation, which passed the committee stage without changes on Monday, will allow the government to appoint a special electoral boundaries commission to create a fourth protected riding for the Acadians. The court ruled that Chéticamp and surrounding areas represent a cultural community of interest.

However, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce raised concerns about voter parity. President Patrick Sullivan argued that a full commission should be struck to examine representation across the province. He expressed concern that protected and rural ridings have fewer voters than most other ridings, particularly in Halifax.

"The dilution of one citizen's vote as compared to another's should not be countenanced," Sullivan said. "We acknowledge the Supreme Court's decision, but do believe we have seen, and continue to see, a significant loss of voter parity between Halifax and the other regions of the province."

Richmond, Clare, Argyle, and Preston. These ridings ensure effective representation of Acadian and African Nova Scotian voters. Chéticamp was not included on the list in 2019, with a slim majority on the commission suggesting its population was too small to warrant its own electoral district.

Sullivan also pointed out that Halifax currently has 23 of the legislature's 55 seats, while the chamber believes it should have about 26 based on its growing population. He suggested that Nova Scotia should have fewer ridings and that Halifax should have a higher percentage of them.

The Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, which launched a court challenge in 2021, urged the government to move forward with "urgency and thoroughness" to ensure the rights of Acadian citizens are respected and upheld. President Denise Comeau-Desautels emphasized the importance of ensuring all Nova Scotians have an equitable voice in the provincial legislature.

"The creation of a new riding for the people of Chéticamp is about more than another Acadian seat in the legislature," she said. "It means the ability to have their unique concerns addressed effectively, their culture recognized and their community's needs properly represented."

Under the changes to the House of Assembly Act, a commission will be appointed by a select committee of the legislature within 30 days of the act coming into effect. This commission will be tasked with creating the new protected riding for the Acadian region of Chéticamp.