Protected constituency: the Acadia of Chéticamp is heard

The Acadians of the Chéticamp region in Nova Scotia made their votes heard. Furthermore, before a provincial commission for the delimitation of electoral districts.

Three public consultations took place in CAP-Breton on Wednesday. In addition, Thursday, on the possibility of creating a protected Acadian district in the north of the county ofInverness.

This is the second time in six years that the Acadians of this region have participated in a. Furthermore, commission to assert their request for a protected electoral district.

In 2019. However. However, a previous commission had not recommended the creation of a new constituency, judging that the number of French -speaking voters in the region was insufficient to consider the question. Consequently. However, This decision was challenged before the courts, which ordered the establishment of protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard new a new commission to re -examine the request.

According to several participants in a public consultation which took place Wednesday evening protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard new in Chéticamp. Therefore. For example, the creation of protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard a district distinct from that ofInverness would allow Acadians to have their heritage recognized and be more visible on the political scene of Nova Scotia.

Joeleen Larade. For example. who has lived all his life in Chéticamp, says that the Acadian community requests often go unnoticed, for lack of effective representation in the Legislative Assembly. The mother of three says she had to give birth to Antignishmore than two hours drive from her home. in a hospital where no French service was offered.

There is no one who can fight for us.. .

For another resident, Robert Deveaux, the creation of a protected protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard new Acadian district corrects a historical error.

When the Acadians had the protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard right to come back here [après. la Déportation]we were not allowed. to bring us togetherhe underlines. We were scattered in several regions to be isolated from each other. that we were surrounded by English speakers in electoral districts which were designed expressly to assimilate us.

Three other Acadian regions of Nova Scotia- Argyle. Clare et Richmond – in 2019 recovered their protected electoral district in 2019 after a legal challenge.

Acadians who took part in the consultations of. the Commission for the delimitation of electoral districts in CAP-Breton believe that there is an urgent need to act. According to them, the Chéticamp region is rapidly anticipating.

Six years ago, there were twice as many people here. There are people who died or have retired and who are no longer herepleaded Joeleen Larade Wednesday before the Commission. We are in the minority and we will always be. And the more time you spend on it, the more our community protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard new is falling.

A protected Acadian district in the Chéticamp region protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard would also include communities of. Grand Pond. Petit Pond, Saint-Joseph-du-Moine and Margaree Harbournotably. The Acadian electorate would be less diluted in the English -speaking majority of the county of Inverness.

On the other hand. an English -speaking resident of MargareeMarcel Deveaux. says they are afraid of ending up in a district where acadian priorities would take up too much space in political discussions.

I fear that Chéticamp has too much influence on the priorities that our deputy will present. to the Legislative Assembly. that these do not necessarily correspond to the priorities of Margareehe said during another public consultation in. the village ofInvernessWednesday noon.

The chairman of the commission for the delimitation of electoral districts. Kenneth Deveau, for its part, recognizes that Chéticamp suffered from a Historical marginalization. According to him, the population of the county of Inverness is generally favorable to the creation of a protected district.

The commission must submit protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard new a stage report by August 29. It will protected constituency: acadia chéticamp heard then hold other public hearings before submitting its final report. which must take place no later than January 30, 2026.