Billy Joe MacLean's Strait of Canso amalgamation plan rejected

The mayor of Port Hawkesbury says he's disappointed with the unwillingness ofneighbouring municipalitiesto talk about amalgamation.

Billy Joe MacLeansaidwhenhe proposed looking into the idea during a recent mayors and wardens meeting,hewas turned down outright.

Even so, he saidit's time rural municipalities such Inverness and Richmond counties consider at least sharing some costs with Port Hawkesbury.

"I just feel that our population is shrinking, our costs are increasing, we'd have better ways of planning, better marketing,"he said.

MacLean said he's long been interested in looking into the benefits of costsharing, and possibly amalgamation.Recently, his council asked him to extend aformal invitation to his counterparts in the area.

Richmond County Warden Victor David will say only that he has to run the proposal by his council.

"There was no yes or no, or throw it in the garbage, on it," he said. "It's'We'll have a look at it.'"

ButMacLean saidthat's not the impression he got at the mayors and wardens meeting.

"I didn't have an armoured suit on, but maybe I would have needed it," he said, addingany talk of amalgamation was immediately rejected out of hand.

The long-time mayor said with similar conversations being held in other parts of the province, he doesn't understand the reluctance to even discuss it.

"I think we're behind the times," he said."And the day that you stop talking is the day that you're not really moving your people ahead."

MacLean saidthere wasunanimous support to talk about opportunities for sharingmunicipal services.He saidthat could include everything from recreation facilities to garbage removal.

Hehopes to arrange the first of those meetings by mid-February.