‘It’s undemocratic’: Council debates motion on strong mayor powers

Halifax Regional Council has unanimously approved a motion which includes requesting the province to do a consultation before giving so-called “strong mayor powers” to the municipality’s leader.

The motion, put forward by Councillor Sam Austin, asks for a letter to be written to the province asking for consultation with Halifax and other Nova Scotia municipalities before making any legislative changes. It also asks for a staff report on how strong mayor powers have been implemented elsewhere in the country.

In Ontario, those additional powers include giving the mayor the ability to veto bylaws, allowing them to pass new bylaws without a majority of council and hire or fire municipal staff.

“My number one worry is the potential for strong mayor powers to really undermine our professional civil service,” Austin told his colleagues at a Thursday meeting. “If we give the power of appointment of the CAO and senior staff to one person, the bureaucracy becomes responsible to that one person, rather than council as a whole…we risk having the civil service prepare recommendations they think the mayor wants to hear.”

Councillors supported the motion, with many taking the opportunity to air their own concerns with potential strong mayor powers.

“When one person chooses, the responsibility and accountability is theirs alone. Be careful what you wish for,” said Councillor Becky Kent. “Plain and simple, it’s undemocratic.”

Councillor Shawn Cleary, told his colleagues, “a strong mayor doesn’t need strong mayor powers.”

Mayor Andy Fillmore weighed in as well, days after telling reporters he is open to strong mayor powers.

“Since taking office I’ve encountered a hard truth: the system that we operate under is not designed to deliver on that mandate with urgency,” he said during the debate, pointing to his election promises of tackling affordability and housing.

In response to a comment from Councillor Billy Gillis that the talk of strong mayor powers could just be rumour, municipal CAO Cathie O’Toole told councillors that in her 25 years in local government, she’s seen “more things come down the pipe (from the province) without consultation in the last three years” than over the course of her career.

“It’s not unusual now to see legislative changes now without consultation from municipal units,” O’Toole said.

Ahead of Thursday’s council debate, the premier was asked about the ongoing rumours that he’s planning to give Fillmore strong mayor powers.

“We’re always looking for ways that we can make sure governments are best serving the citizens, and there’s a serious disconnect right now between serving the citizens of Halifax and the decisions that council is making,” Tim Houston told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The premier again weighed in on council’s decision-making, criticizing the decision earlier this week to turn Morris Street into a one-way street in order to move forward with bike lanes.

There was debate over the issue of the mayor being the one to send the letter to the province, as is standard practice, given his involvement in the discussion, but the motion passed as written.