Nova Scotia rejects Halifax’s updates to regional plan

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

The Nova Scotia government has rejected Halifax’s updates to its regional plan, forcing the municipality to go back to the drawing board.

The regional plan, which was originally adopted in 2006, was the first guide for growth in Halifax following the amalgamation of the municipality. The plan established policy until 2031, with reviews scheduled every five years.

The plan was readopted in 2014 following a review in 2011, and another review started in 2020.

Last June, Halifax council adopted a motion to repeal the 2014 regional plan and adopt a 2025 strategy with related amendments. The updated regional plan is subject to provincial approval, according to the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter.

The municipality says the minister of Municipal Affairs sent them a letter on Friday saying they could not accept the updates.

“While we were encouraged to see some proposals that would work towards improving the housing situation in the region, left as-is, they didn’t go far enough,” the letter reads. “Beyond that, the document included many proposals that appear intentionally designed to impede housing.

“This is unfortunate and, as a result after careful consideration and a thorough review, I simply cannot accept the Plan as submitted and must therefore refuse to approve the Plan.”

The municipality says they did not expect the province’s rejection of the updates, claiming they have been working with provincial staff to address their feedback.

The rejection means the 2014 regional plan, which was last amended in May, is still in effect.

“Over the coming weeks, municipal staff will re-engage with the province to determine the next steps on the planning process and ensure the Regional Plan is updated in a way that aligns with provincial interests and fulfills the municipality’s obligations under existing legislation,” a news release from the municipality says.

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