Latest news with #JohnLohr
Global News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Strong-mayor powers and why some Halifax councillors are worried it could be coming
Halifax's city council has directed the mayor to ask the Nova Scotia government for consultation on whether it is considering strengthening his authority. Council voted last week in favour of the motion to make the request for collaboration in a letter to Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr, with only Mayor Andy Fillmore voting against it. Coun. Sam Austin presented the motion and told council that a move towards strong-mayor powers would undermine councillors' ability to adequately represent their constituents. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In Ontario, so-called strong-mayor powers are in effect in 215 cities or municipalities, allowing their heads of council to propose bylaws and pass them with the support of one-third of councillors, veto bylaws and hire and fire department heads. In Nova Scotia, all elected councillors, including the mayor, have a single vote on council issues. Story continues below advertisement Austin says putting so much power into one person's hands is 'deeply problematic,' and Coun. Janet Steele says strong-mayor powers could 'mute' the other voices on council. Fillmore has argued the strong-mayor model doesn't erode democracy, but instead sharpens its edge. This vote follows Premier Tim Houston saying his government is looking at strengthening mayoral powers. It came after criticizing a recent Halifax council decision to move forward with a bike lane plan that involves turning a south-end city street into a one-way route. Houston told reporters after Thursday's cabinet meeting this street change is evidence there's a disconnect between council's decisions and the needs of its residents.
CTV News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Kentville Memorial Pool opens for summer after renovations
John Lohr and Kentville community members at the opening of the newly renovated Kentville Memorial Pool. (Source: Town of Kentville Facebook) The newly renovated Kentville Memorial Pool is now open for the summer season, the Nova Scotia government announced. The pool, which first opened in 1960, received $500,000 from the province to repair the facility, including a deck replacement, plumbing upgrades, waterproofing and resurfacing. The improvements to the outdoor facility ensure the pool will be safe and inclusive for people of all ages, a news release from the province said. 'For 65 years, this pool has been a place for families, swimmers and neighbours to come together,' said John Lohr, minister of Finance and Treasury Board and MLA for Kings North. 'These upgrades will make sure the Kentville Memorial Pool remains a place where residents can stay active and connect with one another for years to come.' The pool serves the Kings County area with public swims, swimming lessons and aquafit classes. It is also home to the Kentville Marlins swim team. Kentville Memorial Pool Kentville Memorial Pool opens after undergoing major renovations. (Source: Town of Kentville Facebook) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Nova Scotia government to spend $2.5M on infrastructure projects
Minister of Nova Scotia Municipal Affairs and Housing John Lohr speaks to reporters following a meeting with his Atlantic Provincial counterparts and Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser in Halifax, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (Source: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese) The Government of Nova Scotia is funding 23 infrastructure upgrades, development and innovation projects across the province. The budget of the Provincial Capital Assistance Program has increased to $1.69 million from $690,000. The program covers up to 50 per cent of eligible costs for priority projects such as water and wastewater assessments, storm water system upgrades and improvements to water treatment facilities, a release from the province said. 'The historic investments we're making in municipalities reflect our commitment to build more homes and stronger communities across Nova Scotia,' said John Lohr, minister of Municipal Affairs. 'Investments in our municipalities to upgrade water systems, protect against flood risks and enable growth are important.' More than $2.5 million will be invested through three programs: $1.69 million to 15 projects under the Provincial Capital Assistance Program four projects under the Municipal Innovation Program will receive a total of $558,569; which funds up to 75 per cent of projects that support innovative approaches to regional collaboration that contribute to the long-term sustainability of local governments Flood Risk Infrastructure Investment Program will fund $269,431 to four projects; this program supports investment in infrastructure designed to reduce flood risk, covering up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs These annual programs are application based. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
CBC
08-07-2025
- Business
- CBC
St. Peter's water utility says minister's intervention in rate hike application 'alarming'
A Richmond County utility says a 19.5 per cent increase in water rates is needed to cover costs, but Nova Scotia's municipal affairs minister has taken the rare step of intervening in a rate application, saying the hike could amount to an "unmanageable burden" for people already facing affordability issues. The St. Peter's, Samsonville and Area Water Utility has a public hearing on Wednesday to review proposed water rate increases in each of the next three years. Barry Culligan, a St. Peter's village commissioner and chair of the water utility, said a four-page letter from Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr that was filed with the Regulatory and Appeals Board was more than just a surprise. "It just seems really odd on their behalf to have stepped into something that's all regulated," Culligan said. "This communication from the minister of municipal affairs is alarming to us, because it's a user-pay system. If they were successful in intervening and to have that stalled or reduced, well, that doesn't bode well for the utility." Lohr declined multiple requests for an interview. In the letter, he said the proposed St. Peter's water rates, if approved, "will result in a significant residential rate increase of $168.15 (19.5%) … at a time of heightened concern around affordability and cost of living for Nova Scotians, including for residents of the St. Peter's, Samsonville area." Despite efforts, affordability a challenge: minister According to the utility's study posted on the regulator's website, the St. Peter's increase would not be $168.15 — it would be an increase of $27.48 on a $140.67 bill, which would then make the bill $168.15. A hike of $27.48 represents 19.5 per cent of $140.67. Also in the letter, Lohr said the province has taken several steps to make life more affordable for Nova Scotians, but despite that, "significant affordability challenges remain." He also cited recent Nova Scotia Power rate increases. "An increase in water service rates will serve to exacerbate this strain and has the potential to place an unmanageable burden on some of the province's most economically vulnerable citizens," Lohr said. 'Advocate for Nova Scotians' In an email, a department spokesperson said the letter was written out of concern for ratepayers. "We don't often intervene, but where utilities in Nova Scotia are raising rates by large amounts, we will make our position known and we will advocate in the best interests of Nova Scotians," the email said. The department did not address the inaccurate increase cited by the minister. Instead, it said the minister simply wants the cost of living taken into account whenever high rate hikes are proposed. Public hearing on Wednesday The Regulatory and Appeals Board has scheduled a hearing on the utility's proposed water rate increases for 1 p.m. Wednesday at the United Church Hall in St. Peter's. Utilities usually conduct rate studies once every three to five years, but many skipped the cycle during the pandemic. Culligan said the St. Peter's water utility has not had a study done since 2017 and it has been running deficits for a number of years. It has also not been accounting for the full depreciation costs of its infrastructure, but the regulator now requires the utility to set aside enough money to replace the treatment plant and pipes in the future. 'We understand money's tight' Culligan said all those things mean water rates have to increase to cover the costs of operation and future capital spending. "We understand that money's tight. I mean, we cringe at the whole conversation of doing this," he said. "Nobody wants to see the rates go up, but the other thing I also cringe at is not doing what we're responsible for doing, which is running a utility that is running in the black." Culligan said if the province would revert to the previous policy of allowing for less depreciation, the St. Peter's utility could lower its rates. "If the Department of Municipal Affairs is doing this, I'd like to think that they also have part of a solution for us, because otherwise, they're basically sinking the utility."
CBC
03-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Doctors Nova Scotia joins voices opposed to expanding booze sales in N.S.
The Nova Scotia government has wrapped up consultations that will help determine if it will allow alcohol to be sold in more places, including grocery and corner stores. It's a move that Doctors Nova Scotia fears will cause significantly more harm than good. In June, 14 physicians who specialize in addiction medicine wrote an open letter to Finance Minister John Lohr, whose department is overseeing the process, saying alcohol already causes more than 500 deaths a year in Nova Scotia. Now, those doctors have the backing of the provincial organization that advocates for physicians. Dr. Shelly McNeil, president of Doctors Nova Scotia, sent an email to members this week saying they are unequivocally opposed to expanding the availability of alcohol. "We are imploring decision makers to think about it not just in the immediate increase in revenues, but also in the long-term costs in the system," she told CBC News. "There's lots of evidence of the harms that come from this kind of policy shift." Representatives from breweries and wineries say they participated in the consultations. There were submissions from organizations who support the move, including the Retail Council of Canada, which argues that the sales will help stores that are losing business to online shopping. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is also for the change. It recommends allowing the sale of beverages that do not exceed 7.1 per cent alcohol by volume in convenience and grocery stores and opening those rules to all small businesses, not just large retailers. Ontario expanded alcohol sales to smaller stores last year while setting limits on the volume of alcohol. But McNeil said Ontario's health-care system is already seeing the downside to greater access, referring to a 17 per cent increase in hospital visits connected to alcohol. A similar increase in Nova Scotia would mean 7,600 extra visits to the emergency department a year, she said. "In an already overburdened system, we can't afford to have our emergency volumes go up that much and we can't afford the harms that come to people that lead them to the emergency department." In Nova Scotia, alcohol is sold mainly at NSLC stores, agency stores in rural communities, four private stores in the Halifax area and sites owned by breweries, distilleries and wineries. McNeil said one of her concerns lies with expansion to locations with less regulation, where teens would be more likely to be able to find a way to buy booze. She said research shows alcohol can lead to increased rates of nine cancers, cardiovascular disease and chronic illnesses. She is also worried about societal issues, pointing to intimate partner violence, which politicians in the provincial legislature declared in September 2024 to be an epidemic in Nova Scotia, and drinking and driving. She said Doctors Nova Scotia has been happy with the Progressive Conservative government's work on health care to date but fears a decision in favour of expanding alcohol sales could undermine that work. "We really worry that this will take a bite out of the progress that has been made." McNeil said Doctors Nova Scotia made its submission in writing as part of the consultations, but she's urging policymakers to reach out and speak to physicians directly. The Finance Department said in a statement that it is reviewing input from the consultations and it will determine the next steps. It won't say when Nova Scotians might hear an update.
