Our fourth council meeting of 2026 was held on Tuesday, 24 February.
The full meeting agenda, reports and video recording are linked below, as well as the draft Minutes.
Halifax Regional Council – February 24, 2026
February 24, 2026 Regional Council Draft Minutes | Halifax.ca
13.1.1 Fly-past Request – Battle of the Atlantic Ceremony
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Municipality grant permission for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to fly RCAF assets in formation over Point Pleasant Park as per the enclosed diagram in the letter dated February 10, 2026 (routed from sea and turning inland to fly directly over the memorial), at an altitude of 500 feet above the highest obstacles at 10:58 a.m. on May 3, 2026, as part of the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony.”
This item passed on the consent agenda.
15.4.1 (Transit) Core Service Plan
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. approve the Strategic Roadmap as a planning framework to guide the growth and development of public transit services in the short term;
2. approve the Core Service Plan; and
3. direct the Chief Administrative Officer to prepare for the implementation of proposed network and service changes outlined as recommendations within the Core Service Plan, subject to budget and resource availability.”
This item passed on the consent agenda, after a healthy discussion at TSC on 09 February. Here is the presentation we received about the upgrades over the next three years:
Core Service Plan, Transportation Standing Committee February 9, 2026 | Halifax.ca
$14.5M in 2026/27 budget capital ($13M) and operating ($1.5M) costs have been accepted as a Budget Adjustment List (BAL) item for Council to debate next week, which involves advancing the routes 8, 9 and 28 upgrades to 2026/27, rather than waiting for 2027/28 to get started.
15.6.2 Councillor White – Provincial Engagement on Potential Increases to Development Related Fees
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:
1. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to engage with/write a letter to the Province of Nova Scotia requesting confirmation of willingness to consideration of an increase in development-related fees; and
2. Subject to the provincial confirmation, prepare a staff report recommending options for increases to development-related fees.”
The purpose of this motion is to determine whether the Province of Nova Scotia is willing to consider adjustments to development‑related fees, which require provincial approval before HRM can pursue any changes. Clarifying the Province’s position will allow HRM to assess whether updated fee structures can be explored to better align with growth‑related costs.
HRMs fees for development lag the national average for both high-rise and low-rise development, and do not fund growth-related infrastructure.
This motion comes from a briefing note that came to us at Budget Committee which stated “HRM’s comparatively low development-related fees reflect a deliberate policy choice based on historical context relative to growth trends that no longer apply.”
Requested Budget Briefing Notes – Feb 4/26 Budget Committee | Halifax.ca
Council is looking for measured increases to an outdated fee structure that would help us cover the administrative costs of development and contribute to the capital costs of growth such as transportation infrastructure, transit, community centers, fire and police stations etc. We are not interested in putting significant upward pressure on the cost to build or to deter building.
This motion passed 16 – 1. I voted Yes.
So far, it sounds like the province is willing to consider some conversation on the topic:
Province says it will not extend freeze on Halifax development charges | CBC News
15.6.4 Councillor Cleary – Resources for Councillors’ Support Office
“Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide staff report on the resources that would be required to provide Councillors with a comparable level and suite of political support services that is currently provided to Halifax’s Mayor and Councillors in comparable jurisdictions – e.g., communications advice, social media support, policy research, speech writing, correspondence, etc.”
Councillors are supported by an 0.5 administrative Full Time Employee (FTE) in fulfilling our duties. I would not survive this job without Andrea’s support! She is fantastic, as one resident proclaimed at coffee drop in today 🙂
There is also a manager of the Council Constituency Coordinators, front desk administration (expenses, travel) and a communications employee, who helps with our HRM produced newsletter content etc. The team in the Councillor Support Office are incredible. However, we receive no strategic or political support thought our office. I feel that I would be a more effective councillor with some policy research and strategic direction to help me prioritize my work.
To compare to the other end of the spectrum, Councillor Cuttell shared that some Toronto Councillors have 8 staff! No one here is interested in that sort of change, but we are open to reasonable suggestions on what may be helpful and affordable.
This motion passed 15 – 2. I voted Yes.