HALIFAX REGIONAL COUNCIL
AGENDA

Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 10:00 a.m.; Reconvene 6:00 p.m. If Required

Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street, Halifax

REVISED – August 15, 2025 – 3:10 p.m.

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1.

CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

2.

SPECIAL COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

3.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES - August 5, 2025

4.

APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

5.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council approve recommendations in the following items: 15.1.1, 15.1.2, 15.1.3, 15.1.4, 15.1.5, 15.3.1, 15.5.1.

6.

BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES

7.

CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

8.

MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION

None

9.

MOTIONS OF RESCISSION

None

10.

CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS - June 24, 2025

10.1

Wanderers Block Functional Plan

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:

1. Consider facility needs for the redevelopment of the horticulture complex and parks depot on the Wanderers Block as outlined in the staff report dated April 11,2025, including the relocation of those municipal uses that may be suitably accommodated at other locations, through future business plans and capital budgets as outlined in the staff report dated April 11, 2025;

2. Confirm the interests and prospective funding contributions from tenants, proponents, and other orders of government to determine the viability of the uses and proposals as outlined in the Functional Plan and the staff report dated April 11, 2025, and

3. Return to Regional Council with a staff report with a recommended redevelopment approach, including an assessment of financial feasibility and consideration of its priority in the context of capital priorities and infrastructure deficits.

11.

NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS

None

12.

PUBLIC HEARING

None

13.

CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS

13.1

Correspondence

13.2

Petitions

13.3

Presentations

13.3.1

Update on the status of the Regional Plan

14.

INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD - August 5, 2025

14.1

Councillor Austin - Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM – Schedule D: Organizations Providing Affordable Housing Rental Accommodations

15.

REPORTS

15.1

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

15.1.1

Community Grants Program 2025 - Referral*

Motion:
Halifax Regional Council approve a Capital Grant in the amount of $23,570 to the Parish of St. Peter’s Church/Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The award will be issued to the Property owner, the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

15.1.2

First Reading Proposed By-law C-703, Respecting Municipal Cemeteries*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council give First Reading to By-law C-703, amending By-law C-700, the Cemeteries By-law, as outlined in Attachment E of the staff report dated August 5, 2025.

15.1.3

Appointment of Building Officials*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council appoint Victoria Dennis, Hugh Layton, Jeffrey Deveaux, Illiana Price, Gemayel El Chalfoun, Damian Hicks, Khush Khant as Building Officials, pursuant to Section 5(2) of the Nova Scotia Building Code Act. This appointment is effective for the duration of their assignment to the duties of a Building Official with Halifax Regional Municipality.

15.1.4

Improvement to the Active Transportation Network – CN Crossing*

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to include consideration of a new active transportation crossing of the CN rail corridor between Scot Street and Chisholm Avenue in the development and prioritization of projects in the successor to the Active Transportation Priorities Plan and next phase of implementation of the Integrated Mobility Plan.

15.1.5

AN116 - HRM Asset Names*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the naming of Wowkwis Park as shown on Attachment A of the staff report dated June 25, 2025; 

2. Approve the addition of Maroon Hill and Sierra Leone to the existing Commemorative Names list as shown on Attachment B of the staff report dated June 25, 2025; and

3. Approve the administrative park names as shown on Attachment C of the staff report dated June 25, 2025. 

15.2

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STANDING COMMITTEE

15.2.1

Update – People, Planet, Prosperity: Halifax’s Inclusive Economic Strategy

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council receive the staff report dated May 27, 2025 for information and receive a presentation from the Halifax Partnership regarding People. Planet, Prosperity: Halifax’s Inclusive Economic Strategy.

15.3

HARBOUR EAST-MARINE DRIVE COMMUNITY COUNCIL

15.3.1

Recommendation Report Local Street Bikeway Dartmouth*

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the installation of approximately 2.5 km of bicycle facilities in Dartmouth along Slayter Street, from Albro Lake Road to Thistle Street, with a north connection along Albro Lake Road to Victoria Road, a west connection on Gladstone to Nantucket Avenue, and a south connection from Nantucket Avenue, through the Dartmouth Common to Dahlia Street as described in the Discussion section of the staff report dated April 2, 2025.
 
2. Direct staff to initiate a planning project to further explore a south connection between Thistle and Ochterloney Streets and Sawmill Creek Greenway as described in the Discussion section of the staff report dated April 2, 2025.

15.4

GRANTS COMMITTEE

15.4.1

Proposed Amendments to Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM, Respecting Tax Relief for Non-Profit and Registered Canadian Charitable Organizations - Fiscal Year 2025/2026

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the addition of twenty-nine (29) properties to Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM as detailed in the Discussion section of the staff report dated July 4, 2025 at an estimated combined cost of $826,244 from Operating Account M311- 8006.

2. Approve an Operating Grant by resolution of the Council for up to two (2) consecutive years to transition five (5) organizations leasing commercial/private property removed from the tax relief program effective April 1, 2025, as itemized in Table 2 of the staff report dated July 4, 2025, at a combined cost of $24,232 from Operating Account M311-8006.

3. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM, the Tax Relief Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 3 of the staff report dated July 4, 2025.

15.5

SPECIAL EVENTS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

15.5.1

2025/2026 Marketing Levy Special Event Reserve 2nd Intake Report*

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council approve total funding from the Community and Events Reserve (Q621), as follows:

1. Award $50,000 for the Davis Cup World Group I tie based on Special Events Advisory Committee’s evaluation for economic merits as a tourism event; 

2. Increase the grant award for the Taekwondo Canada National Championships to $50,000; 

3. Increase the grant award for the 2026 Karate Canada U21 & Senior National Championships to $20,000; and 

4. Decline the grant award of $75,000.00 to The Gifts We Carry: Youth Empowerment Event Honouring Residential School Survivors as the application does not meet the eligibility guidelines. 

15.6

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

15.6.1

Councillor Hartling - Request for egress options for consideration in the 20262027 capital budget process

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to:

1. provide emergency egress options for Council consideration as part of the 2026/2027 capital budget process based on early findings from the Region-wide Subdivision Egress Review Study, if critical subdivisions can be clearly identified or if low-effort egress solutions can be achieved;

2. initiate conversations with provincial partners to identify roles and financial responsibilities for emergency egress for subdivisions within HRM on provincial roads, or on private-to-provincial roads; and,

3. explore opportunities for federal funding to assist with costs for emergency egress solutions.

15.6.2

Councillor White - Argyle Street Pedestrian Zone

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council direct the Chief Administrative Officer to provide a staff report on the recommended path forward to convert Argyle Street (from Prince to Blowers) to a year-round pedestrian zone. The work should include consultation with the local Downtown Halifax Business Commission members, non-member businesses, and residents on the street. The report shall indicate the recommended infrastructure and logistics required to provide a livable and safe experience for people in the area, and how to accommodate required vehicle loading access.

15.6.3

Councillor White - Funding Support for The Gifts We Carry: Youth Empowerment Event Honouring Residential School Survivors

Motion: 
That Halifax Regional Council approve funding in the amount of $75,000, from Reserve Q621, the Community and Events Reserve, for The Gifts We Carry: Youth Empowerment Event Honouring Residential School Survivors from the Marketing Levy Special Events Reserve (MLSER), pursuant to Section 38 of the Marketing Levy Special Events Reserve Administrative Order, on the basis that Council is satisfied the grant will promote tourism in accordance with the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

16.

MOTIONS

17.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE)

Council may rise and go into a private In Camera session, in accordance with Section 19 of the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, for the purpose of dealing with the following:

17.1

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report - Deferred from August 5, 2025

A matter pertaining to any subject, the discussion of which could, violate the confidentiality of information obtained from another body of government, or a public body.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated June 2, 2025; and

2. Release the private and confidential report dated June 2, 2025 to the public once the conditions as outlined in the report have been met.

17.2

INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to any subject, the discussion of which could, violate the confidentiality of information obtained from another body of government, or a public body. 

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated July 25. 2025; and

2. Release the private and confidential report dated July 25, 2025 to the public once the conditions as outlined in the report have been met.

17.3

PROPERTY MATTER - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to providing instruction and direction to officers and employees of the Municipality pertaining to the acquisition / sale of land.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated July 29, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated July 29, 2025 be maintained private and confidential. 

17.4

PERSONNEL MATTER - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to an identifiable individual or group, including Code of Conduct complaints against Elected Officials.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated August 18, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated August 18, 2025 be maintained private and confidential.

17.5

PERSONNEL MATTER - Private and Confidential Report

A matter pertaining to an identifiable individual or group, including Code of Conduct complaints against Elected Officials.

Motion:
That Halifax Regional Council:

1. Adopt the recommendations as outlined in the private and confidential report dated August 18, 2025; and

2. Direct that the private and confidential report dated August 18, 2025 be maintained private and confidential.

18.

ADDED ITEMS

19.

NOTICES OF MOTION

20.

ADJOURNMENT

21.

INFORMATION ITEMS

21.1

Proclamation - National Acadian Day - August 15, 2025

21.2

Memorandum from the Municipal Clerk dated August 11, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Council - None 

21.3

Memorandum from the Chief Administrative Officer dated July 10, 2025 re: Tax Relief for Non-Profit Organizations - Market Leasing

22.

IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) INFORMATION ITEMS

None