Nova Scotia Fisheries Minister Sterling Belliveau says he will vote against the controversial electoral boundary review legislation, with the blessing of the premier.

Belliveau represents the Shelburne District which will be split in two at Clyde River, N.S., if the legislation passes.

“I have been very clear and I have not wavered, and I will not waver,” Belliveau told reporters at the Legislature Thursday. “I will be voting against this.”

Premier Darrell Dexter said Belliveau will be allowed to vote with his conscience.

“So that his constituents know that their voices were heard…by the law amendments committee and by their representative,” Dexter told reporters. “I know that’s an unusual thing for executive council members to be allowed to do, but I think in this circumstance it is appropriate.”

Dexter said his government will accept the redrawing of the electoral map as proposed in a final report by the N.S. Electoral Boundaries Commission. The premier added he expects the rest of the NDP caucus to support the changes.

Both the opposition Liberals and Progressive Conservatives have indicated they will vote against the proposed boundary changes.

“That’s the root cause of this problem,” said PC leader Jamie Baillie. “That the final report is going to be rammed through by one party, both opposition parties against. On something as important as this, that is a strike against democracy.”