After going through North West Community Council, The Hubbards area rate and boundary report (here) for sidewalks and active transportation was brought forward to Regional Council. It was a significant step forward (literally and figuratively!) for folks, highlighting where the and demand for safe modes of active transportation in Hubbards, while the communities of Queensland and Black Point did not show support. The proposed boundary reflects that.

In April 2025, Council instructed the CAO to prepare a “flat” 2026/27 budget scenario — holding spending at 2025/26 levels except for unavoidable cost increases like inflation, collective agreements, provincial contributions, and items already approved. Despite holding the line on spending wherever possible, HRM is facing significant built-in cost pressures (full report here).

Another success from HalifACT is pluvial (rainfall) flooding, fluvial (river, lake, or stream overflow) flooding, and coastal flood mapping, with predictions for 1 in 20 year, and 1 in 100 year flooding events. This municipality-wide floodplain mapping was completed using climate projection and LiDAR data. 

On May 27, 2025, I presented a motion:

THAT Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to develop a staff report exploring options to support vegetative yard waste and debris disposal pursuant to HRM sanctioned community FireSmart events, and include a recommended option, with costing, for consideration. 

That staff report returned to council on October 28, with a recommendation of allocating an additional $20,000 towards FireSmart Cleanups.

Regional Council received the HalifACT (Halifax Acting on Climate Together) progress report this October — a document that both celebrates successes and underscores the work still ahead. The report, and the discussion that followed, reinforced a primary purpose of the HalifACT framework: to make the municipality carbon neutral while lowering long-term operating costs and aligning with other levels of government to get there.