Nova ScotiaOn Wednesday, Municipal Affairs Minister John A. MacDonald announced he had approved Halifax’s changes to regional planning documents and bylaws related to Dartmouth Cove water lots, with some amendments.Municipal affairs minister announced approval of amended rules on WednesdayHaley Ryan · CBC News · Posted: Nov 26, 2025 12:55 PM EST | Last Updated: 2 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by text-to-speech, a technology based on artificial intelligence.A section of Dartmouth Cove in Halifax harbour is shown on Monday, May 13, 2024. The province’s municipal affairs minister has approved new municipal planning changes to limit water-lot infilling in the area. (Richard Cuthbertson/CBC)New rules that limit infilling in Dartmouth Cove are now official, and have passed the final hurdle of provincial approval.On Wednesday, Municipal Affairs Minister John A. MacDonald announced he had approved Halifax’s changes to regional planning documents and bylaws related to Dartmouth Cove water lots, with some amendments.Council passed the changes in early October, similar to what was brought in for the Northwest Arm last year. The only infilling activities allowed would be for public infrastructure, utilities or retaining walls.In late October, provincial staff flagged some concerns with the proposed rules around municipal jurisdiction and whether Halifax has authority to make decisions on areas of the harbour where land does not yet exist.“Despite this ambiguity, I’m approving the amendments assuming the municipality can clearly demonstrate they hold the regulatory authority to do so,” MacDonald said in a release.The province did not intervene when the Northwest Arm changes were brought in.Residents and area representatives from all three levels of government have called for Halifax to limit infilling in Dartmouth Cove after a local company proposed to infill their water lot with thousands of cubic metres of rock.They have raised concerns that a proposed infill project would harm wildlife in the cove, cut off public access to the waterfront trail for years, and affect research at the neighbouring Centre for Ocean Ventures & Entrepreneurship (COVE).A sign from a neighbourhood group opposed to infilling at Dartmouth Cove in Halifax harbour is shown Monday, May 13, 2024. (Richard Cuthbertson/CBC)Atlantic Road Construction and Paving, the company behind the project, has said new places to dump pyritic slate are needed in the region, and the infill would actually improve water quality and wildlife in the cove.Premier Tim Houston said last month he was concerned with how the municipal process unfolded, calling it “pretty political.”Houston has described Tom Hickey, CEO of Atlantic Road Construction and Paving, as a close personal friend.The province amended the planning documents to make sure Halifax can demonstrate a few factors, including:That all parcels lie entirely within the boundaries of the municipality.Halifax has the legislative authority to regulate infilling of lands under water.That the federal justice department has confirmed none of the measures infringe on federal jurisdiction.Minister MacDonald had until Friday to render a decision on the new rules.MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORHaley Ryan is the municipal affairs reporter for CBC covering mainland Nova Scotia. Got a story idea? Send an email to haley.ryan@cbc.ca, or reach out on Twitter @hkryan17.
Infilling now restricted in Dartmouth Cove, as new rules pass provincial approval
