HALIFAX – More than half the population of Nova Scotia resides within the Halifax Regional Municipality, and with a new government on the horizon, the city wants more input on provincial politics.
HRM Mayor Mike Savage said there are some big issues facing the city — funding is needed to upgrade water infrastructure and ensure growth and investment in the municipality’s urban core.
He said improving transit also needs to be a priority.
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“We don’t get support from the provincial government on transit issues and some of the provinces do,” he said. “So we’ve had some support for the federal government over the years and we’d like to make it a three-way deal.
“We’d like the province to come in and sit down and discuss these issues with us in a mature relationship.”
Savage said he has met with all three party leaders, and the candidates have said they are more than willing to work with Halifax and other municipalities across the province.
“My experience has been Nova Scotians are tired of federal, provincial and municipal politicians passing the buck to one another. They want to see us work together,” said Stephen McNeil, leader of Nova Scotia’s Liberal party.
Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie and NDP leader Darrell Dexter both agreed.
“Bottom line is Nova Scotians expect their politicians at all levels to work together, and I agree with Mayor Savage that that’s what we’re going to do,” said Baillie.
” We want to work with the mayor, and for that matter the council, to ensure that we have even greater success in the capital region,” said Dexter.
Savage said the city faces numerous challenges but also had opportunities.
“We can’t do it on our own, and we want to make sure that the premier and the government will recognize municipalities as an important part in making progress,” he said.
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