Nova Scotia·NewNova Scotia’s new municipal affairs minister says the “only way” to bring in more revenue for municipalities is by boosting the economy through the PC government’s push for energy and resource projects. Minister tells conference of municipal politicians that both sides will need to work togetherHaley Ryan · CBC News · Posted: Nov 05, 2025 7:12 PM EST | Last Updated: 18 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 4 minutesMunicipal Affairs Minister John A. MacDonald, left, speaks with Yarmouth Mayor Pam Mood, right, at a Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference in Halifax on Nov. 5, 2025. (Haley Ryan/CBC)Nova Scotia’s new municipal affairs minister says the “only way” to bring in more revenue for municipalities is by boosting the economy through the PC government’s push for energy and resource projects.John A. MacDonald appeared at the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference in Halifax on Wednesday, where he answered questions from outgoing federation president Pam Mood.Mood, the mayor of Yarmouth, asked how the province could work with municipalities to engage residents and build trust in major projects the Progressive Conservative government is encouraging. Those include fracking for onshore natural gas, uranium mining, and offshore wind and offshore natural gas development.“To be honest, the bigger the project, the more people have concerns, and communication is going to be key. We have to be working together,” MacDonald said to a crowd of mayors, wardens and councillors.”The more communication we have, the more they’re going to realize that this is actually a good thing, and all of this has to be done in a responsible manner.”Municipal Affairs Minister John A. MacDonald speaks with reporters on Nov. 5, 2025, at a Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference in Halifax. (Haley Ryan/CBC)Municipalities have raised concerns in recent years about a lack of communication on major policy shifts like lifting the ban on uranium mining and exploration, which led to a petition with 7,000 signatures opposing the move. The Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi’kmaw Chiefs has also called out a lack of overall consultation on natural resource development multiple times.Mood asked MacDonald how the communication process from the province to municipalities could be improved. She noted that part of the Municipal Government Act requires the province to give municipalities a year’s notice about decisions that could impact municipal costs or revenues, which has been “overtly overridden” in some cases.The minister said it is all about “communication, both ways, on what the changes are, and we’re working hard.”“But as everyone in the room realizes, there’s going to be cases where there’s broader government impacts. There’s other departments, there’s other levels of government that are affected. So we are always here to listen, but like I said, we’ll do our best on the communication,” MacDonald said.The minister was also asked how the province can help find new sources of revenue for municipalities to afford the growing need for infrastructure, buildings and services without solely relying on property tax hikes. MacDonald said he might sound like “a broken record,” but the key is growing the economy.”That’s why unleashing the power that we have with Wind West, critical minerals, that is what’s going to help get people to be moving here, making families here, staying here. And again, that helps all levels of government,” MacDonald said.After his comments to the conference, MacDonald told reporters he does not yet have a top issue he plans to tackle because he is starting a tour of municipalities to learn what they need.Based on Mood’s questions, he said “it seems like funding is the biggest,” and he plans to work with local governments and Ottawa to figure out how to access more money.MacDonald said he was happy to see the new federal budget promise $51 billion over 10 years for local infrastructure such as housing, roads, water/wastewater and health facilities. But while MacDonald said he agrees with the premise of building up communities, he needs to know more about how those funds will roll out.“I’m loving the number. But once we get into the details and figure out where it’s actually for, I’d be able to give you a better answer,” he said.Federation asks for predictable fire fundingDuring his session with Mood, MacDonald was asked about the new provincial framework for fire services across Nova Scotia, which is currently in a six-month consultation process.Mood asked whether the province would consider a request from the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities for a formal fire services modernization transfer to municipalities, which she said would mean a “predictable amount” of earmarked funds to municipalities for a sustained period of time.MacDonald did not say whether that request will be considered. But he said the province is gathering input from all local governments, and fire departments themselves, to determine what the new model will be.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.
N.S. municipal affairs minister promises communication on natural resource projects
