Global News interviewed both candidates for mayor in Halifax. Read the article about Lil MacPherson’s bid for mayor here.
Mike Savage is asking Haligonians to let him finish what he started four years ago at city hall, and re-elect him as mayor.
His 2012 election platform guaranteed a litany of promises, many of which are still in the works or haven’t come to pass: a full transit overhaul – awaiting final plan; securing Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes – no land bought; “bring the Bloomfield Master Plan to fruition” – has not yet happened; campaign finance reform – awaiting staff report.
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The list of items still in the works includes many big initiatives, but there have been some wins for the current mayor.
In August, council voted to give the Nova Scotia Nature Trust the final amount needed to complete the 100 Wild Islands wilderness park. Council also changed garbage and waste pick-up.
In an interview with Global News, Savage attributed the slower pace of change to the difference in the governing rules between municipal, provincial and federal governments — unlike upper levels, city hall doesn’t have a party system with whipped votes.
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Savage has also been credited with bringing stability back to council after 12 years of tumultuous leadership under former mayor Peter Kelly.
Citing a good working relationship, Savage says council has made “tough decisions” all while being “able to get stuff done.”
“We’re much more open as a government, much more inclusive,” he said, while agreeing “there’s things we need to do.”
‘You can’t just make a change without talking to people’
Implementation of the network-wide Halifax Transit revamp was expected to start in Fall 2016, however in April, councillors asked staff to look at more than a dozen proposed changes to that overhaul.
READ MORE: Halifax Transit revamp to get another review before final decision
At the time, Halifax Transit said it would be “several months” before the staff report is brought back to council for a vote.
“It’s council’s decision,” Savage said last week. “That’s the process, you can’t leave people out of the process.”
Nonetheless Savage believes Halifax Transit has gotten “significantly better” and it will only get better once the integrated mobility plan is passed.
“You can’t just make a change without talking to people,” he said. “I’d rather get it right than fast.”
Commuter rail pilot project ‘possible’ by next Fall
Savage says council can move fast on the proposed commuter rail line, though.
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An unsolicited proposal from Via Rail put commuter rail back on the council agenda this year. The company wants to operate a rail line on existing tracks between Windsor Junction and south end Halifax.
Because Via Rail already owns the cars, Savage said start-up costs would be relatively low. He expects the pilot project would run for two to three years.
A case-by-case approach to development
In 2014, Savage voted against a controversial development on Wellington Street in the south end, but so far he’s supported a proposal for a contentious building to be constructed at the busy Willow Tree intersection.
If it goes ahead, the 29-storey building would need an exemption from current rules as it would be taller than zoning rules allow.
In addition, municipal planning staff recommended council vote against the proposal because the height is out of proportion with surrounding buildings and it would create a large shadow on the Halifax Common.
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Local residents are also strongly opposed to the building proposal, however Savage and the majority of councillors voted in favour in September of asking staff to draft zoning amendments for the proposal.
Savage said if the September vote on the proposal had been a final decision on the building, he would have voted ‘no’ — however he voted in favour to give the developer an opportunity to make their case.
“We will have public input on that and that will have a big impact on my decision,” he said. “When the time comes maybe it’s good, maybe it’s not.”
Land to be purchased for Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes within 4 years
Savage is also promising progress in the next four years on establishing two wilderness parks in the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes area and in Purcell’s Cove.
After a failed attempt to buy land over the last four years for the Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes park, Savage says in the next four years the city will acquire land.
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Though he reiterated previous comments saying the city can’t “buy at any costs,” and the negotiations “won’t be easy.”
Savage says if he’s re-elected residents will see a more diverse and “greener” city.
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