Our seventeenth council meeting of 2026 was held on Tuesday, 20 October.
The full meeting agenda, reports and video recording are linked below, along with the draft Minutes.
Halifax Regional Council – October 20, 2026
October 20, 2026 Regional Council Draft Minutes
12.1 PUBLIC HEARING: MPSA-2025-01528 – Amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Regional Centre Land Use By-law for side and rear setback requirements for high-rise buildings in the Downtown Halifax Zone
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council adopt the proposed amendments to the Regional Centre Secondary Municipal Planning Strategy and Regional Centre Land Use By-law, as set out in Attachments A and B of the staff report dated September 18, 2026.”
An applicant requested this change for one development (1874 & 1888 Brunswick Street), and staff recommend changing the Centre Plan so that the rules apply to approximately three properties in this situation. It aligns the rules for rampart sight lines and view plan restrictions in the Downtown Halifax Zone. The changes are for buildings abutting properties with rampart sight line restrictions that would not permit the development of a high-rise building.
The motion passed unanimously 15 – 0.
15.2.1 Case HRTG-2026-02186: Request to Include 1717 Brunswick Street, Halifax in the Registry of Heritage Properties for the Halifax Regional Municipality
(Heritage Advisory Committee) “Motion: That Halifax Regional Council set a date for a heritage hearing to consider the inclusion of 1717 Brunswick Street, Halifax, in the Registry of Heritage Property for the Halifax Regional Municipality, as shown on Map 1 of the staff report dated September 15, 2026, as a municipal heritage property under the Heritage Property Act.”
This is further good news for the Alehouse as detailed here: Alehouse Status
This motion passed on the consent agenda (15 – 0).
15.3.1 Councillor Morse – Deer Survey in Suburban HRM
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to provide a staff report outlining options and projected costs associated with hiring a contractor to conduct a baseline deer population survey in the spring of 2027 in the near-urban areas of HRM, in particular in areas where the provincial BIR database has identified deer/vehicle collisions are most common, and in conjunction with HRM Public Works, HRM Public Safety and wildlife specialists at the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources.”
Per Councillor Morse’s motion form, “so far this year, 150 deer/vehicle collisions have been reported in HRM. A deer population survey would establish a baseline and could be used to analyze population trends and develop focused management strategies.”
We are certainly seeing more deer in D7 too, and sadly one was struck and killed on Beaufort Avenue last weekend. (The first I’ve heard of, though residents have been raising the alarm about increasing numbers of deer since June 2025 to me.) I assume they come to us via the railroad and/or swim across the Arm.
(Please do not feed the deer.)
This motion for a staff report passed 15 – 0.
15.3.2 Councillor Hinch – Public Information Meeting for Forum Redevelopment
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to set a new date in November 2026 for a Public Information Meeting regarding the proposed demolition of the Halifax Forum.”
First, a bit of background information:
In March 2026, Budget Committee voted to proceed with the “Spirit of the Forum” design (by defeating Mayor Fillmore’s motion to pause the project for a year).
From the Budget Committee Minutes (page 45):
“MOVED by Mayor Fillmore, seconded by Councillor Young
THAT the Budget Committee amend the motion to direct the Chief Administrative Officer to finalize the 2026/27 Capital Budget and Four-Year Capital Plan for Regional Council, incorporating BAL_042 – Halifax Forum Redevelopment from the Budget Adjustment List as outlined in the staff report dated March 2, 2026.”
“MOTION TO AMEND PUT AND DEFEATED. (8 in favour, 8 against)
In favour: Mayor Fillmore, Deputy Mayor Cuttell, Councillors Hendsbee, Purdy, Hartling, Young, Gillis, St-Amand
Against: Budget Committee Chair Deagle Gammon, Councillors Kent, Austin, White, Hinch, Cleary, Morse, Steele
Not present: Councillor Mancini”
“BAL_042 – Halifax Forum Redevelopment” is on pages 17-19 here:
2026/27 Budget Adjustment List for Consideration – March 3/26 Budget Committee | Halifax.ca
On 25 September 2026, HRM posted the following on social media (after letting council know shortly before):
“NOTICE: The public information meeting (PIM) regarding the Halifax Forum heritage demolition application scheduled for Oct. 1 has been cancelled following a staff decision to pause the application due to updated project costs that exceed funding approved by Council. The updated cost information and potential next steps will be brought back to Council for further consideration and direction on available go-forward options.”
They have updated the municipal website to reflect this:
Halifax Forum Renovation | Halifax
This staff decision was confusing for both council and the public, given the recent media and social media attention on the Forum project from the Halifax Hawks and Mayor Fillmore.
Through the debate, we learned that the price for the Halifax Forum Redevelopment has risen by $12-14M (10%) from the approved $126M.
This cancelled PIM was about a heritage demolition application only.
As council agrees that the Forum must be demolished to either proceed with the Forum Redevelopment that is in progress through a design-build contract now, or any other use for the Forum land, we voted unanimously (16 – 0) to reschedule the meeting.
16.1 Mayor Fillmore
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to prepare a staff report, with an accompanying action plan, aimed at improving traffic management during planned construction projects, with priority given to measures that are operationally simple to implement and can be accommodated within existing approved budgets and resources, in consultation with Link NS, Halifax Transit, Public Works, the Major Projects Office, Public Safety, Halifax Regional Police, and the Halifax District RCMP; and
THAT the action plan include an analysis of the feasibility, costs, and implementation of measures such as:
1. Temporary changes to parking regulations on major corridors and bus routes near planned construction projects during peak travel periods;
2. Enhanced signage, wayfinding, and real-time traveller communications;
3. Have the Commissioner of Public Safety explore the potential use of police officers or other qualified personnel to manage traffic where significant construction-related congestion occurs; and
4. Explore options to increase the practice of undertaking construction projects at night and weekends;
5. Other operational measures identified by staff to improve traffic flow and reduce disruption during planned construction.”
Councillor Morse was granted a friendly amendment to add “and bus routes” to item 1.
I asked to vote separately on each item, as I am not ok with spending extra staff time and capital budget on this work. Whenever we emphasize one priority, we are detracting from another. I prefer to spend our time and resources on longer term strategic solutions like Bus Rapid Transit, the Transit Core Service Plan, the Integrated Mobility Plan Action Items etc. We do have a line item in our Strategic Plan “MB-01-R2 Reduced impact of municipal road work, and isolated traffic incidents on traffic flow and travel times.” Numbers 1 & 5 are in line with this strategic direction that staff already have.
The motion passed. (I’ve asked for my votes to be corrected in the Minutes to reflect the votes below for #4 & #5 that got reversed.)
1) 15 – 0. I voted Yes.
2) 14 – 1. I voted No.
3) 10 – 5. I voted No.
4) 14 – 1. I voted No.
5) 15 – 0. I voted Yes.