Town councillors in Antigonish have decided to withdraw from the Eastern Strait Regional Enterprise Network.
They unanimously passed a motion to leave the REN at March’s regular town council meeting Monday night.
Town officials submitted their one-year notice of intent to withdraw in March 2018, then voted to stay in January; that was before councillors in the Town of Port Hawkesbury and the Municipality of the District of Guysborough voted to leave in February.
Officials in the Town of Mulgrave also recently decided not to join the REN.
After Monday night’s meeting, Laurie Boucher, Antigonish’s mayor, said their hands were tied.
“When you’re part of the group, and the group is falling apart one by one, it’s really hard to stay- you don’t want to be the last one standing,” she said. “If we were to not give our notice before (March 31), then we would be responsible for the REN.”
Boucher said they’re disappointed, because their provincial counterparts offered funding to make it work and they couldn’t take advantage, and also because they had faith in John Beaton, the REN’s CEO, and his staff members.
She said it doesn’t mean they’re giving up on economic development in the area.
“There is a gap there, and we want to fill it,” she said. “What that looks like, we’re not sure yet, but staff is working on it to see what they can come up with as well- (they’re) working with the province.”
Antigonish Co. councillors are expected to vote on their future in the REN at their regular meeting Tuesday night; officials in the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s are expected to hold a similar vote Wednesday.
