"Years of statistical information shows Nova Scotia should forget about ineffective economic development strategies for rural parts of the province," Mills said. "The province should commit instead to a strategy of economic development for the major urban centres and also for small, defined urban centres."
He also seems to follow the time-honoured tradition of amalgamation non sequiturs. There are only a couple of truly "rural" councillors. They have undue influence not because they are at the same table as urban and suburban councillors but because transit decisions are ad hoc and Metro Transit is subject to political meddling. Adding more municipalities would not fix this. A real solution to the problem would be to create an arm's length transportation authority (also covering road projects) with its own budget.
I do tend to agree when it comes to focused economic development strategies. I don't think NS can be competitive and also heavily subsidize the 1/3 or so of its population that lives in far-flung rural areas.