Following the devastating 2023 wildfire season, including the fires that deeply impacted our neighbours in Upper Tantallon, it became abundantly clear that community connectivity is a critical matter of public safety. That is why, in March 2025, I moved a motion directing staff to complete a Region-wide Subdivision Egress Review Study.
On June 22, The Auditor General presented two reports to the Audit and Finance Standing Committee - the Capital Budget Audit, and the Audit of the Office of the Mayor. I'll break them down separately.
In June 2026, The Auditor General released a comprehensive Capital Budgeting Audit (report here). Here are the key takeaways from the report and what they mean for the future of Halifax.
Watercourse and coastal buffers play a crucial role in our communities, serving as vital features for both ecosystem health and the protection of private property from hazards like flooding. Recently, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) has been re-evaluating these buffers, trying to strike the right balance between environmental protection and the pressing need for housing development.
As we look toward the future of our community, it is becoming increasingly clear that climate change is not just a distant goal—it is a present reality. The 2023 wildfire season in Nova Scotia, including the devastating Upper Tantallon fire, served as a stark reminder of this, highlighting wildfire as an emerging climate risk that demands immediate attention.
Following the devastating Upper Tantallon wildfires of May 2023, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) has undertaken a rigorous review process. These independent After-Action Reports (AARs) provide a transparent look at the collective response. The goal of these reviews is simple: to save lives and protect property more effectively by embedding "continuous quality improvement" into our emergency management framework.