Article content Halifax City Hall in this file photo from 2024. Photo by Ryan Taplin /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentUrbaniak called Austin’s motion for consultation, reflection and research reasonable.Article content“I think that’s the least any citizen could ask for in a situation like this, where we might be faced with a fundamental reordering of the way municipal government is conducted.”Article content‘IT’S THEIR CALL’Article contentMayor Andy Fillmore, who wasn’t available for an interview on Friday or Saturday, has told reporters there have been discussions. Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr has also said that these powers have been discussed, but has dodged questions about any related legislation being drafted.Article content“I don’t know if the province is serious about doing it or not … if the province wants to do this, ultimately it is their call to make,” said Austin.Article content“We make better decisions when we work together and I hope if they’re considering municipal governance reform in such a dramatic fashion, that they would engage not just with HRM but with the province’s other municipalities.”Article contentArticle contentThe province has surprised the Halifax Regional Council several times in the past few years with legislative changes made without consultation, particularly in regards to housing.Article content“Rather than just reacting to change when it gets announced on us, there seems to be buzz around this that it seems to be worth the municipality putting its oar into it and saying ‘Hey, we would actually like to be involved in any discussions,’” Austin said.Article content‘QUITE DANGEROUS’Article contentAustin said the power that scares him the most is the ability for one person to hire and fire senior staff.Article content“That would really be quite dangerous and would risk undermining the impartiality of the civil service. One of the most important things that happens at the municipal level is we get non-partisan, just-the-facts advice from staff. If staff are suddenly turned into political appointees of the mayor, are you going to get that same level of evidence?”Article contentArticle contentUrbaniak said he hasn’t seen a case for strong mayor powers in Nova Scotia. He said there’s only a case for it where there are mayors with excessively large councils and are like assemblies where someone needs to grab hold of an agenda “in a way that’s more than persuasion.”Article contentPUBLIC SHOULD WEIGH IN TOOArticle contentAustin said that on Tuesday, he expects “a lot of councillors will have a lot of opinions to share on this” but doesn’t expect any significant opposition to his four-part motion.Article content“It’s not saying don’t do this or do this, it’s saying ‘Hey, let’s actually have a proper conversation about this.’”Article content Dartmouth Coun. Sam Austin in a file photo from 2022. Photo by Tim Krochak /The Chronicle HeraldArticle contentHe said he thinks the public should also have their say on it, and any changes should be effective as of the next election in 2028.Article content“We just had an election in which we had a mayor elected with the lowest percentage of the vote (42.52 per cent) in the whole municipality’s history. It would be quite a thing to turn around and say ‘Well, now’s the time for strong mayor powers.’”Article contentAustin said he gave a deadline of July 22 so it can get to the province in time before the fall sitting of the legislature.Article contentUrbaniak said he “would not at all be surprised” if it appears in the fall sitting. Article content
Dartmouth councillor pushing for consultation on possible strong mayor powers
