Global News interviewed both candidates for mayor in Halifax. Read the article about Mike Savage’s re-election bid here.
After fighting Halifax council from the outside for years, businesswoman Lil MacPherson says she’s hoping to shake things up from the inside.
MacPherson is running for the region’s top job against incumbent Mike Savage. The co-owner of the Wooden Monkey restaurants describes herself as a businesswoman, concerned citizen and mum.
“I am very active in my community and care deeply about the future,” she said.
For years MacPherson and other downtown business owners have been ringing the alarm about the impact of the massive and delayed Nova Centre construction.
The impact on downtown businesses has been so significant the Wooden Monkey, along with other businesses in the area, launched legal action over the impact of the project that started in 2013.
READ MORE: Halifax responds to Nova Centre legal action, says claim doesn’t apply to them
She also helped the city draft new regulations to make sure future mega-projects don’t have the same impact on existing businesses.
In an interview with Global News, MacPherson said her experience as a small business owner and her passion for a cleaner and greener city are what motivated her to run for mayor.
Banning plastic bags and bottles a first step
Aside from the region’s Solar City program, MacPherson says Halifax’s green initiatives are few and far between, and the city is failing to deal with the “low hanging fruit.”
She says the city should ban plastic bags and bottles, as well as work on more complicated changes such as making the construction of new buildings more sustainable.
“We are not a green city we think we are but we are, not at all,” MacPherson said.
MacPherson says Halifax is falling behind cities around the world that are introducing adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change. For example, she says Bridgewater is leading the province in helping residents make efficiency upgrades to their homes.
READ MORE: Halifax Election 2016: More than 43,000 early votes in so far
Better storm water management and collection of storm water on private property is another change MacPherson would like to see — one she says could both help the climate and help residents save money on their bills, MacPherson says.
“Leaders in the world need to have their finger on climate change,” she said. “It affects all the systems in our city.”
‘A lot’ of development projects don’t make sense
The proposed 29-storey building at the Willow Tree intersection is a perfect example of a development that “doesn’t make sense,” MacPherson said.
READ MORE: Massive highrise moves ahead despite city staff recommendations
Council hasn’t approved the building for construction, but is allowing the process to move ahead despite loud protests from local residents. The proposed building is too big for current zoning regulations so council has directed staff to develop amendments for the site.
Staff recommended only considering a 20-storey building, but council rejected that recommendation for a taller option. MacPherson says council needs to be “more respectful” of the wishes of people who will be directly affected by new development.
“Community needs to be at the table when it comes to what happens in their neighbourhoods,” she said.
‘Proper bike lanes’ for Halifax
MacPherson also says Halifax isn’t taking biking as a form of transportation “seriously.” She says the city seems to build bike lanes as an after-thought, rather than integrating them into road systems and new construction.
READ MORE: Move over motorists, Halifax gets first protected bike lane
She says the bike lane between the two new round-abouts on North Park Street demonstrates a failure to build proper bike lanes because they abruptly end, forcing cyclists into traffic or onto the sidewalks.
“It’s dangerous and it’s brand new,” she said.
She says a bike network is essential to attracting and keeping young people in Halifax.
“Our generation needs to know we need to share the road with them,” she said.
‘Losing businesses because of negligence’
Outdated bylaws is another factor MacPherson says is a motivator for her mayoral run, saying she would start a “red tape team” to clean up the city’s bylaws.
Citing examples like businesses not being given advanced notice for street construction and peculiar rules governing businesses, MacPherson says a dramatic overhaul is needed before the city loses more businesses.
READ MORE: Dartmouth art gallery, cafe at risk of closure because of bylaw dispute
She calls the case of the Dark Side Cafe in Dartmouth “the canary in the coal mine.” It closed after the city said its principal business had to be selling art not coffee.
“Why is it okay to drink a beer and throw an axe in Halifax, and you can’t buy art and have coffee in Dartmouth,” MacPherson asked.
“We are losing businesses because of negligence and a communication gap between businesses and the city,” she said.
MacPherson, who is running against incumbent Mike Savage, says she’s running because its “important to challenge the city on what it’s lacking.”
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