The purpose of the Amalgamation Steering Committee is for the Municipality of Shelburne, Town of Shelburne and Town of Lockeport to explore feasibility, implications, opportunities, and challenges of municipal amalgamation. All meetings are open to the public for observation and residents are encouraged to attend to stay informed.
All meetings will be held 6:00pm on first Wednesday of the month, rotating between the three municipal units. The next meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 2, 2026 has been postponed. The Committee has invited representatives from the Province and MLA Nolan Young to participate in discussions regarding the next steps for our three communities. Unfortunately, the September 2 date does not align with MLA Young’s existing commitments. The Committee believes it is important to have MLA Young participate alongside the Province in these discussions. As a result, the meeting will be rescheduled to a date that allows for their attendance. Once a new date is finalized, it will be advertised.
Please note that online observation may not be available for all meetings, depending on the hosting municipal unit. To confirm whether virtual observation is available for a specific meeting, please email nicole.blades@municipalityofshelburne.ca.
What has the Committee done?
Since December 2025, the Amalgamation Steering Committee has been gathering the information needed to determine whether amalgamation of the Municipality of Shelburne, Town of Shelburne and Town of Lockeport should be considered further.
The Committee has:
- Learned from other municipal experiences – heard directly from representatives involved in the Windsor–West Hants consolidation and the Pictou County amalgamation initiative, providing practical insight into what worked, what did not, and lessons for Shelburne County.
- Learned about the amalgamation process – met with representatives of the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board (NSRAB) and received additional guidance on the process, studies and information that would be required for an amalgamation application.
- Explored the benefits and challenges – held a joint workshop for the three Councils with municipal lawyer Kevin Latimer, which examined potential benefits such as stronger regional planning, infrastructure coordination, service delivery and advocacy, as well as challenges involving taxation, debt, infrastructure, staffing, representation, community identity and transition costs.
- Received additional expert advice – heard from Chris MacNeill about lessons learned from municipal amalgamations and dissolutions in Nova Scotia.
- Identified the work still required – determined that detailed financial, infrastructure, human resources and other analysis would be needed before the three Councils could make a fully informed decision about whether to proceed.
No decision has been made to amalgamate. The Committee’s work to date has been about understanding the potential opportunities, risks and costs, and determining what information is needed to make an informed decision.
What happens next?
The Committee plans to meet with the Province of Nova Scotia and MLA Nolan Young to determine whether Provincial funding may be available to complete the studies and reports required for a potential NSRAB amalgamation application.
The outcome of those discussions will help determine the Committee’s next steps.
Inquiries
Have an inquiry? Check out our list of Frequently Asked Questions or contact the the Chair at amalgamationchair@temp.g23.ca
Committee Members
The Amalgamation Steering Committee is made up of the following appointed Council representatives:
Municipality of Shelburne
Deputy Chair, Warden Penny Smith
Deputy Warden Heidi Wagner
Alternate: Councillor Dale Richardson
Staff Support: Warren MacLeod, CAO
Town of Shelburne
Mayor Stan Jacklin
Councillor Therese Cruz
Staff Support – Sarah Mattatall, CAO
Town of Lockeport
Chair, Mayor Derek Amalfa
Deputy Mayor Craig Hillen
Staff Support – June Harding, Clerk
Staff support positions do NOT have voting power. The alternate Councillor appointment is ONLY able to vote if an appointed Councillor is NOT present.
Committee Terms of Reference outlines the Committee roles, responsibilities and structure of the Committee.
Meeting Minutes
*Please note, meeting minutes are uploaded only after receiving approval from the Committee.
Other Information
The Committee received a letter from the Minister of Municipal Affairs on June 2, 2026 stating the Municipal units would need to initiate the process and determine whether they are prepared to proceed with an application to the the Nova Scotia Regulatory and Appeals Board (NSRAB) before the province would consider any funding. This letter can be viewed here. In response, the Committee has submitted a letter to the NSRAB seeking clarification regarding the studies and analyses that would likely be required should the three municipalities submit an application and can be viewed here. NSRAB responded July 3, 2026 and the letter can be viewed here.
At the March 4, 2026 Committee meeting, a discussion was held regarding the importance of provincial funding and it was agreed that a letter be sent to the Minister of Municipal Affairs requesting a commitment of funding for the full cost of all studies and related requirements necessary to evaluate and complete a potential municipal amalgamation between the three units. A copy of letter can be viewed here. A response letter was received from the Minister of Municipal Affairs on April 8, 2026 and can be viewed here. On June 2, 2026 the Minister of Municipal Affairs provided a follow-up letter and can viewed here.
The committee is at a very early, exploratory stage and is focused on ensuring that any discussions are informed, collaborative, and grounded in evidence. We believe it is important to include our local MLA and the Province early in this process, particularly given the policy, governance, and financial considerations involved. A copy of the letter sent to MLA Nolan Young on February 5, 2026 can be viewed here.
On February 3, 2026 the Councils of all three units had an amalgamation workshop with Kevin Latimer. Kevin is the former Managing Partner of Cox & Palmer, Halifax (2012-2018) and was appointed by the Province of Nova Scotia to act as Transition Coordinator for the Windsor / West Hants municipal consolidation project (2018-2020). The workshop summary can be viewed here.