Mayor Calls for Clearer Priorities in HRM Capital Spending
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore says HRM must become more disciplined and transparent in deciding which capital projects proceed—and which must wait.
Responding to findings from HRM’s Auditor General, the Mayor argues that Council and taxpayers should be able to see how major projects are evaluated, what competing priorities were considered and why one investment is recommended ahead of another. The audit identified weaknesses in HRM’s capital budgeting process, including unclear links between project evaluation, prioritization and the projects ultimately presented to Council.
Fillmore says stronger capital planning will become increasingly important as population growth, housing development and defence-related investment place greater demands on roads, transit, water, wastewater and other municipal infrastructure. He is calling for clear responsibilities, timelines and measurable outcomes before work begins on HRM’s 2027–28 budget.
For rental housing providers, the article is particularly relevant because delayed or poorly prioritized infrastructure can prevent new housing from proceeding while increasing the costs ultimately carried by property owners, residents and new development.
Read the Mayor’s Substack article: We Can’t Do Everything at Once