Halifax terminating contracts with Imperial Cleaners at 21 sites over living wage issues

Halifax City Hall is pictured. (Source: Callum Smith/CTV News Atlantic)

The Halifax Regional Municipality is terminating 16 contracts with Imperial Cleaners – which was responsible for 21 sites – over what it calls a lack of compliance with living wage requirements.

In an email, the municipality said it was ending its contracts with Imperial Cleaners on Feb. 28. It told the company about its decision on Dec. 17, 2025.

“The decision to terminate the 16 existing contracts was made only after determining that they were not in compliance with the municipality’s Supplier Code of Conduct, specifically regarding labour standards and the provision of a living wage to employees,” the email reads. “The municipality’s procurement policy integrates environmental, economic and social considerations to promote sustainable and ethical business practices while delivering the best value for residents.

“This includes a Living Wage Requirement to ensure fair compensation for employees working on municipal properties.”

The Imperial Cleaners website says the company, which was formed in 2000, provides cleaning services for provincial and federal government offices, along with construction sites and stores.

The company worked at Alderney Gate, including the ferry terminal and the Halifax Public Library. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2 said Imperial took over the contract from the previous employer last February.

SEIU, which represented 12 workers at Alderney Gate, said they lost their positions after the contract switch.

“All 12 janitors this time last year lost their jobs and now six janitors could lose their jobs,” said Tina Oh with SEIU. “It’s looking extremely pessimistic for these janitors.”

Oh said SEIU has been “sounding the alarm” about living wages in Halifax for a year.

“The city has brushed us off saying they can’t enforce the living wage policy,” Oh said. “There has to be severe consequence for custodial contractors who are circumventing these living wage policies.”

Along with Alderney Gate, the municipality says Imperial Cleaners operated at:

• Findlay Community Centre
• Fairbanks Centre
• 11 Turner Drive
• 150 Thornhill Drive
• 196 Waverley Road
• George Dixon Recreation Centre
• Chocolate Lake Community Centre
• Fire Station 45 / Gordon R. Snow Community Centre
• Fire Station 09
• Bedford Pool
• Sackville Sports Stadium
• Woodlawn Public Library
• Village Plaza, 978 Cole Harbour Road
• Bedford Library
• Halifax and Woodside ferry terminals and ferries
• Ferry Terms & Boats
• Hammonds Plains Community Centre
• Fairview Cemetery
• Mackintosh Depot (old location)
• The Powerhouse Youth Centre
• St. Andrews Community Centre

The municipality says it will follow its procurement policy and secure new contracts for the sites.

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