I waffled on whether I should write about Stewiacke. Here’s why I chickened out
I’m in the process of writing an article about the Town of Stewiacke. Will it ever be released, probably not.
Why? Frankly, I’m too scared.
When I wrote my first article about layoffs at Acadia University, I was quite critical of both the university and the student body. I published what I believe was a fair assessment of how the Acadia Community and Acadia’s Administration handled the layoffs. The point I tried to get at was that despite both parties having poor judgment, I could see where both sides were coming from.
At the time, I wrote this article mostly for myself. I expected it might reach a few dozen people and at most, get a handful of likes. As of writing, my Instagram post promoting my first article received roughly 2700 views and over 40 likes. This was definitely more viewers than I expected, and more attention than I necessarily wanted.
Following that article, I published a three part series covering Acadia’s proposed (now approved) restructuring plan. When I had a chance to meet our Provost at a Q and A session in April, I was surprised to find out that her and the rest of the team had read my work. Through the proposal process, I had a chance to speak to the Provost multiple times, and also received an email reply from the President (all of these interactions were positive). Overall, I have been greatly impressed by how accessible Acadia’s leadership team has been for students providing feedback.
Unfortunately, I believe that if I publish an article about the Town of Stewiacke, I would not get the same response. For a town as small as Stewiacke, there has been an astonishing amount of drama, especially in regard to their municipal council. While I do not live in the town, I live within walking distance (take that for what you will, I’ve walked round trip from Wolfville to Kentville). When I’m home from university, I visit the town regularly to pick up groceries, visit the library, or go to Tim Hortons. Like my articles about Acadia, I could see one about Stewiacke going viral. In this case, however, I would likely not get the same positive reaction from both sides of the story.
I want to be clear that in a country like Canada, I shouldn’t feel hesitation about speaking out against a municipal government. While Canadian laws on free speech are not the same as those in the United States (though many like to apply US law in Canada), we do have protections in place to protect our expression. However, while I feel that I would make a fair argument, I wouldn’t be willing to argue it in a courtroom. I’m a university student, I don’t have the time or money to fight a municipal government in court in order to prove I’m right. I’d like to think that my words would not lead to a legal battle, but given the current tension (and litigious history) in the town, it’s not a totally uncalled for fear.
This shines light on a problem that, in my opinion, is bigger than just Stewiacke. Sure, the town has a long history of having drama end up in a courtroom, but why are similar stories popping up in other municipalities? Is this just a side effect of being in rural Nova Scotia, or is there something more at play?
I believe that one of the issues right now in municipal government is that a lot of the elected representatives are in their positions for themselves, rather than their constituents. It’s no secret that governments are tight on cash right now — you don’t have to look far to find cuts. Yet it appears that one of the last areas to be cut are councillor expenses. Councillor expense reports are legally required to be public in Nova Scotia, and these totals range from zero to over ten thousand dollars per individual. What items are included in these totals? Sometimes, members of council are reimbursed for purchasing items on behalf of the town (e.g., buying supplies for a local festival). More often than not, however, the claims are for travel, lodging and meals related to conferences or meetings. There are a few avenues I can approach in regard to expenses, the first being the inconsistency. If these meetings are considered important, why are the same councillors going every time? Does this imply that some councillors are bad at their job because they aren’t taking their turn? On the other hand, I could argue that these meetings and conferences are a waste of money, and the councillors going might be choosing to go for the free hotel room and night out. Additionally, when councillors purchase supplies for the town (e.g., supplies for a festival), should they not be processed through the municipal credit card and directly added to the line item in question? This way, the municipality collects the credit card points instead of the councillor. This side of the story is a great example of the agency problem, that being councillors working for their own interests instead of ours. Although spending money is not always a bad thing, it’s the intent that matters. And let’s be real, how many of those who take advantage of expense claims would vote to have this budget reduced? Furthermore, is it really that outrageous to assume that some of these councillors would try to keep people from calling them out for it?
With how tight finances have been for everyone, I think it’s fair to assume that residents have a right to criticize their council when they feel taxpayer dollars are not being spent properly. In Nova Scotia, the act of criticism has been a contentious topic. Several municipalities are currently in active discussions about how to handle harassment towards elected officials. To be clear: harassment towards municipal employees and elected officials is a valid concern that should be addressed. However, I fear that if we don’t address it correctly, comments by upset citizens will mistakenly be considered “harassment”, and the wrong people will end up getting hurt. This is where the provincial government is to blame. Although some municipalities have strict by-laws that I have personal disagreements with (e.g., prohibition of recording/live-streaming council meetings), the leading culprit is the revision to the Municipal Code of Conduct. More specifically, I’m referring to the removal of the public’s ability to file formal complaints against elected officials . By removing a way for citizens to have a voice outside of election season, the province has effectively made it harder to hold a rouge council accountable. I believe that this revision has led to a lot of unnecessary drama and heresy in local government, much of which could have been avoided if an independent third party was able to investigate. This is ultimately what concerns me the most as an individual who takes interest in small town drama. I also remain aware that if I have these concerns coming from a background of privilege, the risk for minority groups and noncitizens is even greater. I’m reminded of a conversation I had with a recent Acadia graduate. My conversation took place the day after the protests occurred at Acadia when Tim Houston visited. This individual mentioned that she ALWAYS tells noncitizens to wait until they have received citizenship before joining protests. Unlike citizens like myself, these individuals have limited ability to speak out, yet are affected equally if not more by the rule of law.
While protesting and criticism may not be viable options right now, there is another way to fight back. In the next election, please register to vote, and if you are in a position to do so, run for office. I was lucky enough to have tuned 18 just in time for the 2024 municipal, and later on, provincial elections. I know for a fact that people in my age bracket chose not to vote because “municipal elections aren’t important”. This statement is inherently wrong, and is very upsetting to me. Voting is one of the few ways that residents have the power to make a real change in their government. By choosing not to vote, you are withholding this legal right. While one vote may not change an election, the collective power of all people is what ultimately shapes the offices intended to serve for us. The offices held by elected officials represent you just as much as your neighbour.
Additionally, I also want to make it clear that there are many GREAT councillors that are working for the people. When a friend and I had the opportunity to present to council in Wolfville, I met a wonderful group of people who asked insightful questions and were extremely friendly and personable. When a council works together for the people, they can accomplish wonderful things. And then there are the true forces behind these wonderful things — the people who work in the town offices. Town offices are full of amazing people who answer the phones, process complaints, and turn a council mandate into reality, including in the Town of Stewiacke. The recreation department, for example, puts a ton of work in to provide activities for the town at a variety of spaces.
Back to why I wrote this article in the first place. I don’t like how I feel like a chicken (pun intended). I would love to go into detail about what’s happening in the Town of Stewiacke and make connections to all of the town’s controversies. But at this point, the stakes in Nova Scotia are too high, and the consequences seem to only affect those like me who choose to speak up. Meanwhile, the people causing problems continue to go unchecked, and the voices wanting change continue to be ignored.
I will continue to advocate the importance of being informed of what happens in local government. No matter where you stand, staying informed is a message I think everyone can get behind. Maybe one day, someday, I just might publish my article about Stewiacke. But that day has yet to come.