Hello Residents of District 7,
Our fourteenth council meeting of the year was held on Tuesday, 08 July and Thursday, 10 July.
The meeting agenda, reports and video recording are linked below.
Halifax Regional Council – July 08, 2025
Halifax Regional Council – Continuation – July 10, 2025
This was described as the most intense agenda ever seen at council by a 9-year veteran councillor, a member of the media and a 20-year staffer!
In the interest of getting this update posted before leaving for a NS staycation tonight, I am relying on commentary from fellow Councillors Austin & Morse to explain some of these motions on heavy topics.
While I’m away next week you can call 902-490-4050 for support (Council Constituency Coordinator’s office) or email Quentin at hillq@halifax.ca
15.1.1 Options & Considerations For 2026-2027 Budget & Business Plan
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to return to Council with a proposal for a comprehensive service review framework, including a classification model for core and non-core services, and options for internal or consultant-led execution.
2. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to return with a corporate user fee policy and pricing strategy, including cost-recovery guidelines, inflation adjustment protocols, and fee exemption criteria.
3. Direct the Mayor to write to the Province of Nova Scotia requesting a formal review of service exchange and mandatory contributions as well as a funding agreement that provides HRM with a share of HST revenue or equivalent ongoing funding, in recognition of the Municipality’s investments in capital infrastructure and economic development.
4. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare the 2026/2027 budget in accordance with the timeline as outlined in the staff report dated June 10, 2025.
5. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to reprioritize the capital plan as well as any new capital asks for the 2026/27 four-year period to ensure that projects advancing in the plan reflect infrastructure investments that deliver the greatest long-term cost savings or cost avoidance for taxpayers, specifically in support of existing municipal core services. This reprioritization is to be undertaken in alignment with the existing capital prioritization framework.”
This motion passed. I voted Yes.
Councillor Austin wrote about it in this blog. The debate was thoughtful if you would like to listen to the details of our discussion.
Council Update: Budget and Morris Street – Sam Austin
15.1.5 Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 2014-015-ADM, Respecting Reserve Funding Strategies – Sustainable Funding and HRM’s Reserves
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Suspend Schedule 2, the Audit and Finance Standing Committee Terms of Reference, of Administrative Order Number One, The Procedures of the Council Administrative Order.
It is further recommended that Halifax Regional Council:
1. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 2014-015-ADM, the Financial Reserves Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 2 to the staff report dated June 10, 2025.
2. Repeal and replace the Reserve Business Cases as set out in Attachment 3 to the staff report dated June 10, 2025.
3. Approve the creation of the Police Extraordinary Investigation Reserve as outlined in the Reserve Business Case as set out in Attachment 4 of the staff report dated June 10, 2025.
4. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to consider, in preparing the 2026/2027 Budget and Business Plan, the following reserve contributions:
a) $5 million to the Capital Fund Reserve (Q526); and
b) Allocating all Deed Transfer Tax revenues exceeding $60 million to the Strategic Initiative Capital Reserve (Q666).
5. Direct the CAO to change the name of the Climate Action Tax to Strategic Infrastructure Funding as part of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Planning process.
6. Direct the CAO to consider and prepare the following reserve reallocations as part of the 2026/2027 Budget and Business Plan:
a) Defunding the Master Plan Reserve (Q556) and transferring funds to the Options reserve (Q421); and
b) Defunding the Strategic Initiative Operating Reserve (Q667) and allocating $4.8 million to the Capital Fund Reserve (Q526) and $2 million to the Police Extraordinary Investigation Reserve.
7. Direct the CAO to direct staff to prepare a staff report considering the potential of hiring a consultant to develop a comprehensive forecast of land sales in business parks, including estimates of future sales volumes and market pricing, and return to Audit and Finance Standing Committee.”
Two amendments were made:
- by Councillor Cleary THAT the motion be amended to add “8. Direct the CAO to provide a staff report with recommendations for appropriate “guard rails,” in accordance with
the Charter, Police Act, Bylaw P-100, and any other relevant legislation, that would be required in order for the Chief of Police to access funds from the Police Extraordinary Investigation Reserve, including appropriate criteria to be met to permit access to funds and reporting on funds used from Reserve.” - by Deputy Mayor Mancini THAT the motion be amended to read: “5. Direct the CAO to change the name of the Climate Action Tax to Strategic Infrastructure and Climate Action Funding as part of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Planning process.”
After HalifACT was moved as an item to cut from the 2025/26 budget by Mayor Fillmore, there is interest in making sure that we stay on track with our prioritization of the program.
This motion passed, I voted Yes. It was another thoughtful debate.
Councillor Austin wrote about the reserves motion here:
Council Update: Strong Mayor Powers, Reserves, Vehicle Noise – Sam Austin
15.1.6 Peninsula South Complete Streets Project: Potential Alternatives for Morris Street East Connection
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:
1. Initiate additional functional planning and engagement for alternative cycling connections for the East Connection on Morris Street between University Avenue and Lower Water Street as described in the Discussion section of the staff report dated June 13, 2025; and
2. Return to Regional Council with a recommendation on the preferred alternative cycling connection.”
This staff recommendation was offered to council, because of the motion passed on 10 June 2025 that Mayor Fillmore initiated.
This motion failed 13-4. I voted No and encouraged my colleagues to do this same.
I describe the reasoning for this in detail in my last post:
Morris Street: Peninsula South Complete Streets Project East Connection
Staff are preparing a report due to the provincial interest in the project, which council will see 30 July at the earliest, and the public will see 01 August at the earliest.
I don’t know if it will be posted online, but I just spoke about the current status of this project, Bill 24 and strong mayor powers on CBC Main Street.
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. endorse the Halifax Regional Integrated Tourism Master Plan 2030 (ITMP 2030) (Attachment 1 of the staff report dated June 5, 2025) including consideration for the Municipality’s related initiatives as set forth in the ITMP 2030 and as also detailed in the Discussion section of the staff report dated June 5, 2025; and
2. direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to work with Discover Halifax to provide annual updates to Regional Council regarding the ITMP 2030.”
This one is a feel-good story, a vision and plan for improving our municipality for the enjoyment of tourists and residents alike.
We received a presentation from Discover Halifax and passed this motion unanimously.
15.3.2 HRTG-2025-00279: Substantial Alteration to the Municipally Registered Heritage Property at 5492 Inglis Street, Halifax
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve the proposed substantial alteration to the municipally registered heritage property 5492 Inglis Street, Halifax, as set out in the staff report dated April 2, 2025.”
This motion passed on the consent agenda.
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare a staff report to be delivered in August 2025 outlining when Cogswell Park can be de-designated as an HRM encampment location and request that the CAO direct staff to begin the process of closing the encampment and remediating the site back to a park as soon as possible.”
We all agree than encampments are bad for all involved. The problem is, without the full wrap around supports in place, and options available to suit everyone that needs assistance, the province doesn’t have indoor places available for all of the people living in Cogswell Park. The number of people sleeping rough is increasing due to evictions and seasonality of the situation, so the staff report will be interesting on this one. Collaboration with the province has been going very well over the past couple of years, so perhaps solutions will be found for many people experiencing homelessness.
This motion passed unanimously.
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council directs:
1. The Mayor to write a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs John Lohr requesting that if the Province is considering Strong Mayor Powers that the Province engage in consultation and discussion with HRM and Nova Scotia’s other municipalities prior to making any legislative changes
2. The Mayor to write a letter to the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Board encouraging the Federation to adopt a similar position, that any changes should first involve consultations with the Province’s municipalities
3. That both letters be sent by end of day July 22 and copies of the letters and any response be circulated to Council
4. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report on how strong mayor powers have been implemented elsewhere in Canada and what lessons can be learned from that experience”
This motion passed 16-1.
Here are Councillor Morse’s words on the topic (from Facebook):
“There has been a fair bit of news coverage this week about the possibility the Houston government will bring in legislation giving HRM’s mayor more powers. This would force a major change to the way HRM is governed and it’s causing controversy.
Some of the concerns related to giving the mayor new powers are: weakening of district and local representation; less transparency around decision-making; politicization of key staff positions; and the risk of the mayor being seen as an agent of the provincial government.
Local organizations are getting involved and you may wish to as well. For example the Halifax Chamber of Commerce has written a background paper you may find helpful – here’s a link (survey closed).
Policy Brief & Survey – Strong Mayor Powers in HRM | Halifax Chamber of Commerce
The Ecology Action Centre has launched a letter-writing campaign:
https://ecologyaction.ca/NoMoreBS-ns-didnt-ask-strong-mayor-powers
Councillors do not get to vote on this change.
The increased powers for the mayor could include authority over hiring and firing senior staff, preparing budgets, or vetoing council decisions. How such powers would apply in Nova Scotia would be determined by the Houston government, not by HRM Council.”
16.2 Councillor Kent
That Halifax Regional Council request a staff report and recommendations for potential amendments to HRM Bylaw T-1000, Respecting the Regulation of Taxis, Accessible Taxis, Limousines and Transportation Network Companies to create a new category providing legislation that relates to the tourism industry, operating passenger vehicles, with a maximum seating capacity of eight passengers within the Halifax Regional Municipality.”
This motion was one that was initially put forward by former Councillor Mason but fell off the staff to-do list early in our term when there was a consolidation of motions. Thanks to Councillor Kent for bringing it back.
The requested changes will help tourism operators operate more efficiently in their tour van routing and help right-size allowable vehicle sizes.
This motion passed unanimously.