Staying in Our Lane

I grew up in Glace Bay and Sydney in the 50’s and 60's and even after living in Lower Sackville for more than 40 years, my wife, also from Sydney, and I make summer trips to Cape Breton to reconnect with family and friends. The drive to Cape Breton has been made much faster and safer over the years by the construction of divided highways that have traffic travelling “one way”  separated from the other “one way” flow by medians and concrete barriers.

"One Way" East and "One Way" West on HWY 101

By “staying in our lane” our concern about oncoming traffic causing an accident or delay is reduced to a miniscule level. We realize the need to be vigilant when we pass from divided highway to two way traffic on the portion of the trip between just past Antigonish to the outskirts of Sydney.

In South End Halifax we are witnessing an increasing population in newly constructed buildings and HRM Staff have wisely proposed establishing “one way” streets to increase efficiency and safety for vehicles moving in the busy hospital, tour bus, and shipping activities.

"One Way" East and "One Way" West

“OK Boomer”! Perhaps I have mistakenly concluded that traffic being able to move east and west on the same street is safer and more efficient than not having to be too concerned about oncoming vehicles. I do think that every motorized vehicle we can remove from our city streets will reduce the maintenance cost of our streets that we pay through our taxes. An incentive for some of the population to abandon motorized vehicles in the downtown is creating bike lanes that not only provide safety and efficiency to cyclists but reduce motorized vehicle wear and tear expenses for our streets.

I appreciate the Premier's concern for visitors to Halifax having to rethink familiar routes to get to their south end destinations but “Goggle” directions and a safer trip can help compensate for the change. If there is only one lane it is much easier to “Stay in Our Lane”.

When “Democratic” is cast as “Bad”

An article by Rebecca Lau of Global News, posted July 17, 2025, leads with a headline indicating that Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston threatens to overrule Halifax city council on downtown bike lane. She reports that Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore said he wasn’t surprised the premier asked the municipality to reverse its decision on Morris Street.

HRM Council Jurisdiction 

“Bike lane concerns have been raised by the Halifax Port Authority, the container terminal operator PSA Halifax, Emera, Ambassatours, and local residents. Most recently, Emergency Health Services said that pre-hospital care delivery and public safety could be compromised if Morris Street proceeded as planned,” 

“These types of interventions should not be ignored. They’re data-driven warnings about operational impacts and public risk. As mayor, I will not ignore threats to our economic competitiveness, risks to public safety, or alarm bells about dramatic cost escalations.”(Lau, n.d.)

Coun. Kathryn Morse, who represents District 10, says the premier’s letter and stance is “disappointing” and appears to be part of a “political spat” rather than an actual effort to improve traffic.

“I think it’s not so much about the Morris Street bike lane as (it is) about strong mayor powers. I think it is more an excuse to go after council and to strengthen a position for strong mayor powers,”

So-called strong mayor powers are passed through provincial legislation, giving mayors certain powers to accelerate the implementation of some shared municipal-provincial actions, such as housing and infrastructure. Morse reminds us of a democratic process that could review the decision and reduce the threat of non municipal authorities not “staying in their lane”.

“If there’s new evidence that this bike lane would interfere with port traffic or EHS in any way, then council needs to reconsider and look at that evidence. Our staff, when they made the recommendation, consulted with EHS, consulted with the port, and there were no red flags,” 

“We have congestion issues in HRM; we’re all concerned about it. I think we could do more to work together. There’s a Link Nova Scotia plan, for example, that’s been sitting on the shelf for months. It would be great to see that so we could start to move forward together.”(Lau, n.d.)

Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender said Houston should “stay in his lane” when it comes to interfering with municipal politics.

“For decades our province’s cities and towns have listened to residents and made decisions based on what was best for their communities,”

“If residents are concerned about traffic congestion, the lack of safe bike lanes or any number of other issues, they can make their voices heard through their city councillor. "(Lau, n.d.)

There is no need for Premier Tim Houston to interfere in municipal decisions. If the decision to review the traffic routing on Morris St. is necessary, the best path is for the citizens of the government closest to the residents and employers impacted to maintain our democratic tradition and avoid creating unhealthy precedent where authoritarian decisions are accepted from layers of government that are not “staying in their lane”.

References

Lau, R. (n.d.). Nova Scotia premier threatens to overrule Halifax city council on downtown bike lane. Global News. Retrieved July 19, 2025, from https://globalnews.ca/news/11292301/nova-scotia-premier-threatens-overrule-halifax-council-bike-lane-morris/

Strong Mayor and Weak Democracy

In a recent Facebook reel, Premier Tim Houston spoke above the tag line that he will always stand up for Nova Scotians and fight for what matters most. He cites the displeasure of those who travel to Halifax with the traffic situation in the Capital city. He speaks of a serious disconnect between serving the needs and aspirations of the citizens of HRM and the actions of HRM council with regard to traffic management on a particular street in central Halifax. 

2024 Nova Scotia General Election results

A review of the 2024 Nova Scotia General Election results shows the success of Houston’s PC’s in most of the Province. Urban Areas of HRM and CBRM voted for parties in opposition to the government. The claim of the Premier to speak with more concern for the people than their elected HRM councillors in these areas is less credible when the election results are considered. When the legitimacy of elected representatives is questioned, particularly in those in high population areas, the threat to democracy is salient.

The threat that a mechanism to overrule decisions by elected representatives through establishment of a “strong mayor” with power to overrule and hire or fire municipal employees may create a scenario where political support or connections of the “strong mayor” to other layers of provincial or federal administrations may be an anti-democratic path to realise political objectives impacting urban citizens in a manner not approved by their elected councillors.

An article by Lyndsay Armstrong of the The Canadian Press suggests that some Halifax councillors are worried about “strong-mayor” powers that may be coming. Tom Urbaniak, a political scientist at Cape Breton University, comments that the province would be wise to wait and see how stronger mayoral authority plays out in Ontario municipalities before following suit.

“In our world today, where democracy is very much at risk, I’m going to respectfully advise caution about major (government) restructuring that was not on the agenda when people last voted,” (Armstrong, n.d.)

“It’s sort of like a mini American presidency, but actually with less congressional oversight. So we need to be very, very careful,” (Armstrong, n.d.)

Armstrong reports that Premier Houston said Thursday he is both “looking at” the possibility of strong-mayor powers and considering using a bill that has passed — but not yet entered into force — to overrule Halifax council’s recent decision to move ahead with a bike lane on a south-end city street.  Armstrong notes that Councillor Sam Austin presented the motion and told council that a move toward strong-mayor powers would undermine councillors’ ability to adequately represent their constituents. Austin said putting so much power into one person’s hands is “deeply problematic,” and Councillor Janet Steele said strong-mayor powers could mute the other voices on council. Steele is reported as saying during the meeting on Thursday”

“It’s moving towards almost authoritarianism, it’s not the way we want to go. These are slippery slopes. I for one don’t want to be sliding down that slope,” Steele said during the meeting on Thursday. (Armstrong, n.d.)

We need only look to the republic to the south to see the negative consequences when political leaders refuse to “stay in their lane” and attempt to enforce their political agenda in areas that are the democratic responsibility of other components of our democracy.

References

Armstrong, L. (n.d.). Strong-mayor powers and why some Halifax councillors are worried it could be coming. Global News | Breaking, Latest News and Video for Canada. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://globalnews.ca/news/11287363/halifax-strong-mayor-powers/ 

Tenants in Transition

A walk through many neighbourhoods of Halifax Regional Municipality will show construction of housing underway in new multi unit buildings that have capacity for hundreds of people to live. The target residents for this new construction are not likely to be those most in need of adequate shelter. Fixed term leases have become more common and rent increases have not been capped at levels needed to ensure tenants can expect to be able to continue to finance housing which should be a right for all in Canada.

Transition to Adequate Housing

ACORN Canada news and events presents an article by Brendyn Creamer written for The Coast that reports the NSNDP promises to scrap fixed-term leases and lower rent cap if elected.

In a press release on Oct 31, party leader Claudia Chender said if the NDP form the next government, they would ban fixed-term leases. This practice allows landlords to boot tenants after their lease is up and increase the rent of units, effectively bypassing the 5% annual rent cap enacted by premier Tim Houston’s government.

Chender also said she would cut the cap in half, meaning yearly increases to rent would not be more than 2.5% of what tenants are already paying. She says she would do this immediately.

The release notes that rent increased 18% last year on average, and that the typical one-bedroom apartment costs $2,000 per month in Nova Scotia. They also said the vacancy rate is 1%. The CMHC’s 2023 rental market report shows that the vacancy rate in Halifax last year was 1%, and noted that the average two-bedroom apartment rent is $1,628—up from 11% the previous year, although other sources claim that it has only become worse in 2024. (ACORN Canada, n.d.)

Social Housing & Human Rights, a coalition of organizations and individuals advocating for more federal investment in social housing in Canada, reports that more than 2.68 million Canadians are in core housing need – unable to find a home that meets the acceptable housing standards of adequacy, suitability and affordability.

Adequate

Housing is considered adequate if it is not in need of major repairs.

Suitable

Housing is considered suitable if there are enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the resident household.

Affordable

Housing is considered affordable if it costs less than 30% of before-tax household income.

Some groups are harder hit than others. Women-led single parent households, racialized and newcomer families, people with disabilities, and First Nations, Metis, and Inuit households are over-represented in core housing need. (Social Housing and Human Rights, n.d.)

Andrew Lam  of CBC News reveals that Killam, one of Canada’s largest residential landlords, reports 'largest rental gains' on new leases in the company's history in the most recent update. Rents increased the most on new leases in Halifax, Saint John and Moncton.

Like other landlords, Killam boosts rents to the market rate when new tenants sign a lease, pushing the reported average rent increase above Nova Scotia's five per cent cap. The cap only applies to lease renewals.

Killam's financial results are an example of the overall trends we've been seeing in recent years in rental markets where there's been inadequate housing supply, said Neil Lovitt, a vice-president with Turner Drake, a real estate consulting company.

"That creates an opportunity for for-profit housing providers to raise rents to market prices when they have an opportunity to do so," Lovitt said. "They're … doing what any market participant really can do." (Lam, n.d.)

Andrew Lam of  CBC News reports that Killam Apartment REIT, based in Halifax, is one of Canada’s largest residential landlords, owning, operating, managing and developing a diverse portfolio of apartments, manufactured homes and seasonal properties.

The Killiamreit website presents information about their Affordable Housing.

We’re committed to providing clean, safe, accessible housing for everyone, regardless of age, background or income level. That’s why Killam partners with many non-profit housing and government agencies to offer over 800 subsidized units in our communities. (Killam Apartment REIT, n.d.)

Subsidized units in Nova Scotia may be a good long term solution to our housing needs. The work to date to provide “pallet homes” has begun a transition from living rough and tent communities to more adequate housing.

Pallet Home Community

Michael Tutton of the Canadian Press reports for CBC News on a $630,000 installation in Lower Sackville that includes 19 sleeping units, separate washrooms and a laundry facility. Jim Gunn, a board member of Beacon House Shelter, describes the boxy 70-square-foot Pallet shelters — carrying the name of the U.S. company that makes them — as a temporary solution.

"Our greatest concern is that these should never become and be seen as permanent, but there's no affordable housing," the retired educator said during a recent tour of the property in Lower Sackville, about three weeks after it opened. "These shelters will stay here until we find someplace else people can go." (Tutton, 2024)

Cassidy McMackon, of the Canadian Press, writing for Global News reports that a village of tiny homes is set to open next month in a Halifax suburb, the latest project by the provincial government to address homelessness.

A Village of Tiny Homes

Located in Lower Sackville, N.S., the tiny home community will house up to 34 people when the first 26 units open Nov. 4.

Another 35 people are scheduled to move in when construction on another 29 units should be complete in December, under a partnership between the province, the Halifax Regional Municipality, United Way Halifax, The Shaw Group and Dexter Construction.

The province invested $9.4 million to build the village and will contribute $935,000 annually for operating costs.

Residents have been chosen from a list of people experiencing homelessness maintained by the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, the community entity of the federal Reaching Home program for Halifax and rural Nova Scotia. The main objective of Reaching Home is to streamline access to housing and supports for people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, by coordinating local services to achieve community-wide outcomes using real-time data. 

They will pay rent that is tied to their income for a unit that is fully furnished with a private bathroom, shower and a kitchen equipped with a cooktop, small fridge and microwave. (McMackon, 2024)

The work to address homelessness in Nova Scotia is not complete.

The Right to Adequate Housing

The right to housing is honoured when people can transition from “pallet homes” and a Tiny home village to subsidized accommodation like that just across Cobequid Road in a modern apartment building.

Transition from “pallet homes” and a Tiny home village to adequate accomodation

References

ACORN Canada. (n.d.). The Coast: NSNDP promises to scrap fixed-term leases and lower rent cap if elected. ACORN Canada News and Events. https://acorncanada.org/news/the-coast-nsndp-promises-to-scrap-fixed-term-leases-and-lower-rent-cap-if-elected/ 

Killam Apartment REIT. (n.d.). KIlliam's Approach. Home | killam. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://killamreit.com/killams-approach 

Lam, A. (n.d.). Killam reports 'largest rental gains' on new leases in company's history in most recent update. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/killam-reit-2024-q3-financial-results-1.7390918?cmp=rss 

McMackon, C. (2024, October 24). Homelessness: Tiny home village to open next week in Halifax suburb - Halifax | Globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://globalnews.ca/news/10828781/tiny-home-village-halifax-suburb/ 

Social Housing and Human Rights. (n.d.). Housing is a human right. https://www.moresocialhousing.ca/ 

Tutton, M. (2024, March 18). Tiny shelter community in Halifax suburb up and running, as province seeks new sites. CBC. Retrieved November 26, 2024, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/pallet-shelters-halifax-nova-scotia-installed-1.7147652 

Different Understanding of Housing Concerns

The housing emergency in Nova Scotia is increasing daily and the understanding of the problem by provincial political leadership appears to differ in important details with the assessment of the situation by at least one Halifax Regional Municipality Councillor. This development resonates with concerns expressed in the Housing and Ideology post in June 2023. As noted then, political ideology may be a serious obstacle to effective action in the area of housing. 

Housing is a Human Right

Haley Ryan of CBC News reports on differences between the understanding of housing fees and timelines in Halifax between Nova Scotia Premier, Tim Houston, and Halifax Regional Municipality Councillor, Shawn Cleary for District 9, Halifax West Armdale.

Houston said the municipality is taking too long to approve housing projects, while fees for building, construction and waste water have climbed "through the roof" and are too expensive for developers to handle.

Cleary said it's unclear whether it's Houston personally who is not up to speed, his staff, or Housing Minister John Lohr — "but clearly someone is not providing him with correct information." (Ryan, 2023)

Housing Concern	Houston understanding	Cleary understanding
approve housing projects	Taking too long	cut waiting times in half for construction and mixed-use permits,
fees for building, construction and waste water	have climbed "through the roof"	council raised building permit fees by 25 per cent; but following the CPI they would be 69 per cent higher.
Delay in construction	No mention of labour and supply chain issues	labour and supply chain issues are the real holdup right now.
bulldozing forests and putting up all new infrastructure	special planning areas fast-tracked by the province that will create new neighbourhoods.	want developments which are more financially sustainable and more environmentally sustainable
Competitive fees for Halifax		Halifax has the lowest development charges of any major, or other city, across Canada; below the national average when it comes to development charges
waste water and water fees for building projects	have climbed "through the roof"	Halifax Water, not HRM, controls those fees, which are regulated through the Utility and Review Board (UARB).

Haley Ryan expands on some of the details of the difference of understanding between the Premier and the Councillor.

Data that planning staff presented to regional council in August shows Halifax has cut waiting times in half for construction and mixed-use permits, compared to last year. Other permit timelines, including residential, are either below or slightly over their targets depending on the project size.

Development agreements can take the longest, a range of eight months to more than two years, but staff said those lengthier waits are for complicated projects that might need new services or roads — like many of the special planning areas fast-tracked by the province that will create new neighbourhoods.

Fees have gone up in recent years, but not exponentially as suggested by the premier. In 2019, council approved an increase to planning and development fees after a staff report suggested moving them up from 13 per cent of the cost of processing these applications, to 33 per cent. 

As part of this year's budget, council also raised building permit fees by 25 per cent as they had not been adjusted since 1997. A staff report noted that if fees had been increased annually to account for the consumer price index (CPI) up to 2022, they would be 69 per cent higher.

"Halifax actually has the lowest development charges of any major, or other city, across Canada and we're well below the national average when it comes to development charges," Cleary said.

Cleary did agree with Houston on one point — that waste water and water fees for building projects are certainly steep, and Cleary said some could run up to $6,000 a unit.

But, Halifax Water controls those fees, which are regulated through the Utility and Review Board (UARB). (Ryan, 2023)

In the crisis of homelessness that we are experiencing in Nova Scotia, and particularly HRM, one essential criteria for efficient progress on this catastrophe is cooperation between all levels of governments that avoids political “half truths”and acceptance rather than shifting of responsibility.

References

Ryan, H. (2023, September 15). Halifax councillor says N.S. premier's housing comments based on 'sheer ignorance'. CBC. Retrieved September 16, 2023, from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/halifax-councillor-says-n-s-premier-s-housing-comments-based-on-sheer-ignorance-1.6968719?cmp=rss