Stanstead Township rejects annexation of Magog’s District 6
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Stanstead Township Municipal Council has firmly rejected the annexation of Magog’s District 6, despite the district’s ongoing campaign to join the township. This decision was officially communicated in an Aug. 9 press release and was further elaborated upon in interviews with key stakeholders involved in the matter.
The council’s position
In the Aug. 9 press release, the Municipal Council of Stanstead Township addressed the rising discussions and public statements advocating for the annexation of District 6 of Magog into Stanstead. The council clarified that they have no intention of pursuing or entertaining any such request. The council emphasized that the annexation would more than double the population, territory, and annual budget of the township, creating “enormous logistical and administrative challenges” that would require a significant increase in personnel and the reorganization of services, including public safety.
Furthermore, the council expressed concerns about the potential disruption to the peace and stability of current residents. “Given the scale of the effort required on our part to analyze the impacts of a request of this nature, the members of Council are of the opinion that such an undertaking would needlessly unsettle the peace of mind of Canton’s residents and give rise to concerns to which we do not wish to expose our fellow citizens,” the statement read.
The council said its decision is final, and they have made it clear that “the matter is closed” as far as they are concerned.
