In order to talk about Morris Street, some context is required. I do think it’s important to call out that there is nothing new about this project. Phase 2 of Peninsula South Complete Streets (of which Morris Street is a part) has been complete since 2022, and had full engagement at that time:
https://www.shapeyourcityhalifax.ca/peninsula-south-complete-streets
On July 8, Councillor Austin introduced a motion regarding strong mayor powers (link). It was timely and necessary. Rumours about potential changes had been circulating for months—well before the Morris Street controversy—and it was time to seek clarity and formally request that the province consult with HRM before making any changes to our governance structure.
At the July 8 regional council meeting, we were presented with a staff report on Options and Considerations for the 2026/2027 budget (here).
The biggest takeaway was the projected 7.5% tax increase due to contractual changes, inflation, and removal of the one-time funding (as a result of reserve spending I wrote about here) based on our current revenue streams.
Following Mayor Fillmore's motion on bike lanes (I wrote about it here), Deputy Mayor Mancini presented Council with another motion on bike lanes to address the rising costs:
The Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to write a staff report of all AAA bike network capital projects defined in current the four year Capital Plan for years 2026-29.
Due to the number of emails, and the amount of media attention the issue of bike lanes has received, I do feel it's important to highlight the reasons for my 'no' vote on Mayor Fillmore's motion on June 10 (the motion failed 12/5). The full motion is here.