A small group of Sackville citizens took to the streets in front of Sackville town hall Wednesday for a second day of protest over the amalgamation process as its being rolled out in the region.

A group of 14 people, a few of which were also out on Tuesday, walked along with signs calling for more consultation from the provincial government.

“I really have nothing against the amalgamation,” said longtime Sackville resident Wendy Burnett. “It’s just simply that it’s a very complex procedure, and I think it’s being railroaded through very unfairly. The government should be consulting people in an area that’s going to be amalgamated.”

Local government Minister Daniel Allain responded to the protests in an emailed statement to CHMA News on Wednesday, but did not address the lack of consultation in the wake of his decision to force the amalgamation of Sackville, Dorchester and surrounding areas. Allain wrote:

“While I can appreciate that some people have concerns, the way to get through the details is to follow the process and the committee is doing its work. Once there are decisions to communicate, they will be and in the meantime, council representatives continue to be encouraged to share information with their councils and the public, just as the LSD reps are doing for their committees and residents.”

Protest organizer Carol Cooke has requested meetings with provincially appointed facilitator Chad Peters as well as Sackville advisory committee representatives Mayor Shawn Mesheau and Deputy Mayor Andrew Black. Peters told Cooke by email that he was simply a contractor, and she should direct her enquiries to the provincial government. Mesheau directed Cooke to information about decisions that is published on the town of Sackville’s website.

The appointed advisory committee will meet today to finalize the electoral system for a new Entity 40 council, which will take over control of Sackville, Dorchester and surrounding areas in January 2023.