Halifax – The city council of Halifax has instructed the mayor to ask the Nova Scotia government to consider whether it is considering strengthening its authority.
The council last week voted in favor of the proposal to request for cooperation to Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohar in a letter, in which only Mayor Andy Filmore voted against it.
Coun. Sam Austin presented the proposal and told the council that one step towards strong-mair powers would reduce the capacity of councilors to adequately represent their components.
In Ontario, the so-called strong-load powers are effective in 215 cities or municipalities, allowing their major councils to propose by-elections and pass them with the support of one-third of councilors, Veto Bilaws and Fare and Fire Department’s heads.
In Nova Scotia, all elected councilors, including the mayor, have a single vote on council issues.
Austin says that a person has so much power in the hands of “depth, and is coun. Janet Steel says that strong-Myer powers can “mute” other voices on the council.
Filmore has argued that the strong-Mayer model does not destroy democracy, but raises its edge.
This vote follows Premier Tim Houston, stating that his government is strengthening the Mayor powers. It recently came after criticizing a Halifax Council’s decision to proceed with a bike lane plan, including converting South-end City Street into a one-way route.
Houston told reporters after Thursday’s cabinet meeting that there is evidence of this road change that there is a disconnect between the council decisions and the needs of its residents.
This report of Canadian Press was first published on 14 July 2025.
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