Halifax council to discuss ‘strong mayor powers’ in Nova Scotia

Halifax council will vote on a motion that calls for collaboration with the province over possible strong mayor powers.

A Halifax council motion seeks to have Mayor Andy Fillmore contact the Nova Scotia government about possible “strong mayor powers” in the province.

Coun. Sam Austin brought forward the motion, which, if passed, would direct the mayor to writer a letter to Minister of Municipal Affairs John Lohr requesting the province consult the Halifax Regional Municipality and other Nova Scotia municipalities if it is considering strong mayor powers.

“There continues to be ‘swirl’ and ‘chatter’ around the potential for strong mayor powers in Nova Scotia,” the motion reads. “When asked by the press in February and June, the Minister of Municipal Affairs indicated that there are no immediate plans to put forward strong mayor powers here, but that he hasn’t ruled them out.

“The Minister has also indicated that informal conversations have occurred on the topic with some of the Province’s mayors, including HRM.”

In an interview, Austin said any consultations should include the general public.

“This is a very major potential change that could fundamentally impact how people are represented, how decisions are made, and the quality of advice that we get from the civil service,” he said.

Fillmore said he hasn’t made any formal requests for additional powers, but he’s had informal conversations with the province. He noted bureaucracies often grow over time to protect themselves.

“I’m a little less interested in consulting with the very organizational structure that I believe needs amending than I am with consulting with the people who we need to serve,” he said prior to the discussion on the motion. “This is all about the people that are outside of that chamber, not the people that are in it.”

In an emailed statement, the province said it has made no decisions on possible strong mayor powers.

Fillmore, who was elected mayor last fall, said he did not “fully understand the barriers” to fulfilling his mandate until he joined council.

“I feel the system we are currently working with…is stopping the residents from seeing the agenda they voted for," he said.

The motion also seeks to have the mayor write a separate letter to the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Board, encouraging them to adopt a position that any changes should involve consultations with Nova Scotia’s municipalities.

Both letters would need to be sent by July 22 if the motion passes.

The motion would also require the chief administrative officer to provide a staff report on how strong mayor powers have been implemented elsewhere in Canada.

Council will vote on the motion at their Tuesday meeting.

-With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Callum Smith

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