The mayor and councillors of the second largest municipality is Nova Scotia feel new legislation means bad news for them.
Amanda McDougall is the mayor for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and believes reforms to the relationship between the province and municipal units will hurt her community more than others.
MacDougall says the legislation will mean less money for CBRM and is calling out the government for its lack of action on housing and transit.
“We are grappling with a pressing housing and transit crisis that need significant solutions, but the province’s response has been anything but adequate,” stated McDougall. “The premier pledged a better deal for CBRM, but his proposed plan leaves us with less.”
McDougall and council say they cannot accept a deal that leaves their municipality with a diminishing equalization formula, especially in the midst of a period of unprecedented population growth.
During an appearance before MLA’s in Halifax, they highlighted the staggering growth in transit ridership, surpassing 400 per cent, and the worsening housing crisis in CBRM, emphasizing that the provincial government has not constructed new housing units in the region for over 30 years.
“We require a distinct agreement with the province that reflects our unique circumstances and path forward,” emphasized McDougall. “CBRM is the second-largest municipality in Nova Scotia and is ten times bigger than the next largest town. The proposed Bill 340, the Municipal Reform Act, and the Memorandum of Understanding is not in the best interests of CBRM, yet they are attempting to impose it upon us.”
CBRM wanted its own agreement with the province, similar to the side deal for Halifax, but the province refused.
Halifax has its own charter with the province that outlines their relationship and jurisdiction.
The Nova Scotia government believes their plan could save the 48 municipalities outside Halifax a total of $40 million to $50 million in annual contributions to the province.
The money would now go to operating jails costs and cover losses for public housing in their communities.
The province will also take over ownership of schools declared surplus, but only if those schools were built before 1981.
