The Town of Shediac has been growing in population and by next year it will grow in area as well.
Under local governance reform, four local service districts are due to join Shediac in 2023: Pointe-du-Chene, Scoudouc, Scoudouc Road and Shediac Cape.
Shediac mayor Roger Caissie says he has heard concerns from some of those residents who are worried their voices will be lost.
“These communities are our neighbours now. They have been our neighbours for decades and decades and they will continue to be our neighbours in the years going forward. I see this as a great opportunity.”
Caissie says the merger could mean the town could help the existing service districts in some ways.
“What does Pointe-du-Chene want to do within its own community? Maybe Shediac can assist with that and that’s how I see it. What can we do and how can we help?”
Caissie understands Shediac Council would expand to include members from those existing communities.
He adds the town and the service districts will be learning and working together over the next year to determine how the merger will work.