Halifax regional council approved the 2026-2030 strategic plan, which will be linked to council’s four-year term. It will guide municipal spending and staff and council decisions over that span. Photo by Ryan TaplinArticle contentHalifax Regional Municipality’s recently approved four-year strategic plan had its supporters in regional council.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentCoun. Patty Cuttell (Spryfield – Sambro Loop) called it a “well-done plan” during Tuesday’s council meeting.Article contentArticle contentThe 2026-30 strategic plan, which will be linked to the four-year term of regional council, will guide municipal spending – what public dollars should be spent on – and staff and council decisions over that span.Article contentArticle content“This is the most well-organized, well-presented strategic plan that I’ve seen here at council,” Cuttell said.Article contentInput from the public, councillors and administration factored into the plan, which comes into effect April 1, 2026.Article contentOn the municipality’s website, it states that “the strategic plan supports regional council in directing the administration to allocate resources to ensure effective budgeting, business planning and capital planning.”Article contentCoun. Janet Steele (Timberlea – Beechville – Clayton Park – Wedgewood) said, “It’s a beautiful plan,” but asked “How are we going to pay for it?”Article content“There’s a lot of really nice things in this strategic plan that would be desirable for some level of government to help undertake,” Steele said.Article contentThree priority pillarsArticle content Construction in Halifax in 2024. – Tim Krochak Photo by Tim Krochak /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentThe 2026-30 capital budget will invest over $1.7 billion over the next four years to, as Halifax’s chief administrative officer Cathie O’Toole said, “help us deliver on regional council’s priorities – enabling prosperity, strengthening communities and moving better.”Article contentArticle contentLabelled as council’s three pillars of priorities, enabling prosperity includes increasing housing supply and adapting infrastructure to climate change, strengthening communities covers emergency planning, protecting green space and alternative first-responder models, and moving better includes goals like improving transit reliability, traffic congestion and safety of all transportation modes, including vehicles, pedestrians and bicycles.Article contentArticle content“I love how it’s pared down to three focus areas for council priorities,” Cuttell said. “I think that sends a really strong message about where we want to focus efforts. Sometimes we have a bit of a smorgasbord of things in front of us. This is a tool to help us in our decision making. I think we can actually move on to some important things over the next four years.”Article contentBut not everyone was in support of the plan.
Halifax council passes ‘three pillars’ strategic plan
