1. Source: Theoi Project: http://www.theoi.com/T artaros/Hydra.html Beheading the Hydra: Coming to terms with municipal governance in Prince Edward Island? Denbeigh Armstrong (PhD Candidate) Supervisor: Dr Elaine Stratford Sustainable Communities Research Group University of Tasmania

2. Local Governance 33 Provincial agencies boards and commissions Federal agencies boards and commissions 75 municipal governments http://www.pantheon.org/areas/gallery/folklore/greek_heroic/hydra.html Numerous local economic development corporations Community Development Bureau Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Human Resources Development Canada http://www.tignish.com/initiatives /

3. KEY INFORMANTS INTERVIEWED From: Village of Tignish Institute of Island Studies Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Federation of Prince Edward Island Municipalities Provincial government including: The Provincial Planning Branch Municipal Affairs department Community Development Bureau Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and the Environment

4. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL SUSTAINABLITY Implementing sustainability is an inherently political and necessarily contested process. Decision-making processes should be: –Inclusive –Transparent –Accountable –Responsive –Flexible –Innovative –Equitable –Efficient –Undertaken at the lowest level consistent with a capacity to produce sustainability outcomes Local Government is best placed to meet the above needs

5. LOCAL DEMOCRACY ‘ A vigorous and effective local democracy is the underlying basis for a healthy and strong national-level democracy’ (Sisk 2001, p.1). ‘it is only local institutions that have the capacity, interest, and detailed knowledge to oversee services and make decisions in tune with local conditions’ (Stoker 2001, p.29). ‘Local democracy enables us to cope with difference’ (Stoker 2001, p.29).

6. P.E.I. 5660 sq.km 135 294 people (2001) 45% urban 55% rural (8% farm) West Prince region

8. TIGNISH AND AREA

9. 1 1Tignish 2Tignish Shore 3 St Felix 4 St Louis 5 Greenmount-Montrose 6 Miminegash 7 Alberton 8 Northport 9 O’Leary 10 Lot 11 & area 11 Lady Slipper 12 Ellerslie-Bideford 13 Tyne Valley 64 2 7 5 3 9 10 12 8 11 13 West Prince Tignish area

10. VILLAGE OF TIGNISH Key controversies Inside municipality: 38 % of land undeveloped 15 new dwellings built (1991-2001) Majority of dwellings serviced by town water and sewerage system Outside of municipality: 175 new dwellings built (1991-2001) All dwellings reliant on private water wells and septic tanks No urban consolidation

11. VILLAGE OF TIGNISH No integrated land-use planning outside municipality Municipal boundary Main harbour Inshore fishery

12. VILLAGE OF TIGNISH Limited local control over local futures Business Parks The biggest thing to hurt Tignish, Alberton and O’Leary… they’re creating another community out there, which is drawing from the three core ones Bloomfield Business Park

13. THE NEED FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM Identified in the following reports: Cultivating Island Solutions: Round Table on Resource Landuse and Stewardship (1997) Securing Our Future: An Employment Strategy for Prince Edward Island (1998) A Place to Stay? Report of the Population Strategy ’99 Panel (1999) The Geography of Governance: An Overview of Boundaries Powers and Responsibilities on Prince Edward Island (1999)

14. THE NEED FOR MUNICIPAL REFORM A Place to Stay? Report of the Population Strategy ’99 Panel ‘ efforts to build sustainable communities will only be fully effective if they occur in the context of strong, effective, local governance structures encompassing all areas of the province…’ ‘reform of local governance is essential to addressing the need: –for economic development and diversification –for local facilities, amenities, services, and infrastructure; –to plan for development and growth in a fair and professional way; and –to foster local leadership and local capacity’ (Institute of Island Studies 2000, p.35).

15. TAKE HOME MESSAGE Local governing processes are key to developing sustainable communities Municipal government needs to be radically reformulated to ensure a whole of island strategy that provides: –integrated land use planning and resource management; –a comprehensive range of services to residents; and –opportunities for people to influence their futures. Otherwise, the promotion of local governing processes that advance sustainability in the ‘locale’ will be severely constrained

16. Thank you