I am proud of all many things we have done to improve the way the municipality functions.
- Lowered the tax rate three out of four years, and delivered a smaller budget in 2016 than 2015
- Continued to decrease municipal debtwhile increasing capital spending
- Proposed and passed policies on open-data,campaign finance reform policy development and, clearer rules of orderfor council
- Proposed a rural index that would help measure the effort and impact of Halifax Regional Municipality in our rural areas. Greater Halifax is the largest rural municipality in Nova Scotia
- Supported regional recreation projects, such as the Dartmouth four-pad arena, the Cole Harbour all-weather turf facility, the renewal of the Dartmouth Sportsplex, the restoration of the Halifax Forum
- Advocated for increased support for the Halifax Public Library; helped develop a new strategic and facility plan that will see all 14 branches enhanced, starting with the Musquodoboit Harbour Recreation and Library renovation this year
- Proposed establishing a regular program of funding and support for museums and heritage facilities
Let’s keep working together to ensure that regional council is a high-functioning, transparent, accountable body that makes wise investments to improve the lives of the all citizens of Halifax Regional Municipality.
I’ve made twelve promises in four areas that will help build a better HRM:
- Becoming one of the most accessible communities in Canada
- All facilities and events accessible by 2020, accessibility in roads and sidewalks increased, as well as a one time blitz in 2017/18
- Transit made more accessible by utilizing taxis to augment accessible bus service, and focusing on making the conventional bus service more accessible.
- Set a target of workforce equality by 2024, with a goal of changing HRMs organizational culture to reflect needs of people with disabilities in both long term planning and daily operational activities, including an “Accessibility Impact” section to staff reports.
- It’s time to expand our rapid transit network
- Transit priority measures, busways and HOV lanes will be mapped out and funded for rapid implementation on key corridor routes.
- Make a new policy the states when buses should have priority on city streets, even if it reduces that roadway’s capacity for single-occupant vehicles.
- HRM shall commit to a higher-order (rapid) transit network expansion, with analysis and decisions completed by 2017/18 and implementation underway in 2018/19.
- Supporting arts, culture and community in District 7 & HRM
- Increase arts funding every year so it has doubled by 2020 (from $365,000 to $730,000).
- Launch the $30 million Cultural Spaces funding program.
- Fund and deliver the Halifax Public Libraries strategic plan while stopping decreases and indexing a renewed Supplementary Funding program.
- Campaign Finance reform and building trust
- Complete strong campaign finance regulations.
- Implement a new conflict of interest, transparency and ethics package for Council.
- Support the creation of “bids” prepared by staff showing the current cost of “contracting in.”
On October 15, vote to re-elect Waye Mason – Progressive Ideas: Proven Results