Latest news with #AndyFillmore
CBC
5 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Halifax mayor accused of spreading misinformation on his role
Earlier this week, Andy Fillmore said he reports to the CAO for Halifax. Multiple councillors and the CAO herself say that's not true. Haley Ryan has the story.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Halifax mayor says its premier's job to intervene when council is wrong
Tim Houston is "entirely within his mandate" to get involved in the decisions of municipal governments, said Halifax's mayor Friday, two days after the premier threatened to overturn a decision by regional council. In an interview at Halifax City Hall, Andy Fillmore said he expected Houston to speak out on council's decision to turn Morris Street into one-way traffic to make room for a two-way bike lane. "We have to remember that in Canada, municipal governments are creatures of provincial legislation. We only exist because of the provincial governments have created legislation to give us the powers to do the things we do," Fillmore told CBC Radio's Mainstreet. "Planning powers, traffic authority powers, policing powers, etc., all are at the mercy or the grace of provincial legislation. So it's entirely within any premier's wheelhouse to adjust or to give direction. That's their job." Houston posted a letter to social media on Wednesday addressed to the mayor, regional councillors and the chief administrative officer saying he had serious concerns about the plan for Morris Street. The letter, signed by Houston, said the change would "contribute to traffic congestion, create unnecessary public safety risks and potentially jeopardize port activity." Houston said his government would "be forced to act" and overturn council's decision if it doesn't reverse course by Aug. 6. — the day after its next council meeting. If council doesn't budge, Houston said the province would use Bill 24 for the first time. The bill, which was passed this spring, allows the public works minister to override decisions by municipal councils related to transportation. Fillmore said he agrees with Houston's concerns and believes the change would hurt truck traffic to the Port of Halifax and delay ambulances. The mayor voted against the bike lane design last week, but he was overruled by the majority of regional council. Ahsan Habib, a transportation professor at Dalhousie University, said a public conversation about traffic congestion is important — especially with Nova Scotia's growing population. "We are a growing city. We are trying to double our population both in the city at the same time as the province and we need to improve our transport infrastructure. The question is how," Habib said. Habib said whatever the solution ends up being, there will always be a compromise. "In my opinion, we need to build many more bike lanes, many more public transit services and also make sure our roadways are efficient to carry other traffic cars." But critics have said they don't believe Houston's intervention is actually about Morris Street. Rather, they believe the premier wants to paint council as dysfunctional to grant Fillmore strong mayor powers. That could allow Fillmore to make decisions without the majority of council and set the budget. Fillmore has previously said strong mayor powers could improve the current system that is slowing progress on issues he was elected to tackle. On Friday, however, Fillmore said he disagrees that Houston is using Morris Street as an excuse to grant strong mayor powers, because those powers would only come after a pattern of bad council decisions. "I'm interested in them [the province] improving my accountability to voters," he said. Fillmore cited two examples of what he considers poor council decisions: Morris Street, and the back-and-forth over the Windsor Street exchange redesign, which saw council approve a plan in February that it had rejected just a month earlier. The mayor said he believes the provincial government would have intervened in the road's overhaul had council not reversed course. MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
18-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Halifax mayor says it's the premier's job to intervene when council is wrong
Premier Tim Houston said he will overturn Halifax council's decision to make a downtown street one-way only. Mayor Andy Fillmore says he expected the move and it's the premier's job to intervene when municipalities make a mistake. Haley Ryan has the story.
CTV News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
‘It shouldn't be touched': Opinions split on Halifax bike lane change on Morris Street
The fight to make Morris Street in Halifax a one-way continues, with many Haligonians offering differing opinions. Noah MacDonald, who works on Morris Street, hopes the project doesn't become a reality. 'I'm not a big fan of that. Neither are any of my coworkers. (There's) not a lot of places to park and not a lot of space there as is,' says MacDonald. On Wednesday, Premier Tim Houston said he would intervene if Halifax council didn't scrap its plan to change Morris Street into a one-way in favour of bike lanes. 'I agree, it shouldn't be touched. I think it's going to be even more of a hazard as a one-way,' says MacDonald. Mayor Andy Fillmore says he understands the concerns voiced by the premier. 'I think it's really important that the premier is paying attention to the decisions of council that affect our ability to move residents and business around the community, to keep our economy rolling through the streets of Halifax, especially when it impacts an economic generator like the Port of Halifax,' Fillmore said. 'I'm not at all surprised that the provincial government has involved themselves here. We had signals that they would.' Deputy Mayor Toni Mancini told reporters Thursday that everyone had been on board with the project during its planning stages. But Fillmore says their stance shifted from the initial consultations made in 2018. 'The city is different. The world is different than it is now. Our population is growing like it's never grown before. Congestion is record-breaking. The staff report was very clear that that consultation is stale,' he says. Fillmore also denied speculations about the timing of the polarizing issue, after some claimed it was being used to advance strong mayor powers. 'That's not it at all,' says Fillmore. 'In fact, the reverse is true. As the council struggles with some of these important decisions, I think the provincial government is watching a council get some things wrong, and they're wondering if maybe now is the time to help the mayor with some enhanced abilities.' Fillmore says he would rather Halifax council make the 'right decision' on Aug. 5 when they meet again. 'It's within their power to do the right thing for the residents of HRM. If the wrong result comes out of the council that day, then I have to support the premier in his intervention. He has got the best interests of the local economy and the safety of our residents at heart,' Fillmore says. Morris Street A section of Morris Street in Halifax is pictured. (Source: Vanessa Wright/CTV News Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
N.S. premier says politicians need ‘tools to do their job'
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says discussions around possible 'strong mayor powers' are ongoing, noting that politicians need the 'tools to do their job.' Houston said people with responsibilities – be they a mayor, premier or other person in the province – need to have the ability to do their work. The debate around possible strong mayor powers in Nova Scotia flared up last week when Halifax council directed Mayor Andy Fillmore to contact the province and request collaboration on any discussions on the implementation of those powers. 'Strong mayor powers would be a major institutional change for us,' said Coun. Sam Austin, who brought forth the motion. 'It would bound future mayors and councils. Strong mayor powers was not part of anyone's election campaigns. There are major implications.' Houston told CTV News Atlantic's Todd Battis the province is engaging in ongoing discussions about potential strong mayor powers. He noted there has been recent friction between Fillmore and the Halifax council around certain issues such as bike lanes. 'Politics is about people,' Houston said. 'We can't let agendas and personal conflicts have a negative impact on people.' On Wednesday Houston issued a letter to council asking it to reverse its decision to turn Morris Street into a one-way for vehicles in favour of a bike lane project. Council has until Aug. 6 to respond. 'The mayor of the municipality is the only person everyone votes on,' Houston said. 'They expect the mayor has a plan, an agenda, a platform they can execute on. There's obviously a lot of issues with the mayor executing on a platform people expect. Traffic is just the most glaring example where council is going in the opposite way that the mayor is going.' Certain Ontario municipalities have strong mayor powers. The province's website lists some of the powers as the ability to appoint a chief administrative officer and hire municipal division heads. Pulp mill Earlier this week, Northern Pulp announced it would be selling off its assets five years after its Pictou County kraft mill shut down due to failure to meet environmental requirements. Houston said he would still like to see a pulp mill in the province, noting that Nova Scotia also has 'incredible opportunities' in forestry and mining. 'We have to overcome some history because for 20 years we've said no to everything and we have to get past that,' he said. 'We need to develop some of these projects, we can't just stay where we're at.' Trade war Houston, who is attending a meeting with other premiers next week, said the ongoing trade war with the United States is still a major focus. He said he's confident Prime Minister Mark Carney has 'the best shot of getting a deal' with U.S. President Donald Trump. 'They're dealing with someone who's difficult to deal with, who changes his mind a lot,' Houston said. 'I have great confidence in (the prime minister's) abilities. The actions of the president are forcing us to look inside our country. We still want a relationship with the U.S.' Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
