Government MLAs Erupt Into Laughter At Mention Of HRM Housing Record
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s provincial government doesn’t think Halifax can fix the housing crisis without direct intervention. It’s made that clear with the laws it passed within the last half year.
It was also apparent on Tuesday during question period, when Keith Irving, The Liberal MLA for Kings South, complimented the HRM for its response to the housing crisis. His remarks were met with laughter from members of the Progressive Conservative caucus.
“There is progress being made in Halifax and I would say thanks to the great work at HRM,” Irving said before the laughter began.
Irving was comparing the amount of new development in Halifax to the slow movement in rural areas that are also desperate for housing.
Brendan Maguire, Liberal MLA for Halifax Atlantic, tweeted the video and claimed Premier Tim Houston was among those laughing at Irving’s compliment towards the city.
Today in question period, @KeithIrvingNS complemented #HRM on their hard work for Haligonians
Houston and the NS Conservative MLAs mocked and laughed at HRM@MikeSavageHFX @beckykentHRM @WayeMason
The lack of respect shown for their government partners is stunning#nspoli pic.twitter.com/6tBOFnTJYR
— Brendan Maguire (@bmaguirens) October 25, 2022
In a statement to Huddle, Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr claimed the PCs were laughing at the Liberals, not at HRM.
“The laughter wasn’t directed at HRM, but at the Liberals. It was part of the normal chatter which characterizes question period and debate in the NS legislature and all legislatures,” wrote the Minister.
Huddle asked for clarification on what exactly they found so funny but received no response.
Irving, for his part, didn’t appreciate the response to his remarks.
“It took me quite off guard. I was quite surprised to hear that,” he said. “Certainly, we need all hands on deck and everybody working together in a respectful manner.”
“While there’s been an increase in HRM, the housing [developments] between January and August of this year, compared to last year, had decreased by over 20 percent [in rural areas]. And we’ve got a housing crisis in rural Nova Scotia, it’s not just HRM.”
Halifax Mayor Mike Savage, meanwhile, says he is not going to let himself be bothered by the political theatre in the House of Assembly.
“I’m not going overreact to what happens in the legislature. I’ve been in Parliament; I’ve watched legislature before; there’s all kinds of games. It’s not a place for serious discussion, unfortunately,” stated the mayor.
Savage defended council’s record of trying to rapidly increase the housing stock. He said there are permits for 10,000 residential housing units in the city, 7,000 of which are under construction.
“Look at the development in Halifax in the last five to six years. It’s extraordinary by any measure, I would challenge anybody to suggest that you haven’t seen growth in our city,” he said.
Savage noted that construction has slowed in cases for reasons outside the city’s control, such as the labour shortage and high interest rates for financing.
“If you look at the amount of projects that have come to regional council in the last five years, just about everything has been approved. With very few exceptions.”
This year, the provincial government passed laws that give it more control over housing decisions in Halifax. In June, Minister Lohr announced he used these new powers to fast track the development of 1,000 new units in the city.
But a new law passed just days ago has brought the ire of council. The province now has the power to cancel a Halifax bylaw if it believes it will impede housing development.
Lohr has said this new power was needed to prevent a noise bylaw from going into effect. The controversial bylaw would have forced construction to cease at 8 p.m., instead of the usual 9:30 cutoff time.
RELATED: Industry Says Noise Bylaw Would Impact Costs, Timelines Of New Halifax Housing
Mayor Savage said the HRM wasn’t even given a warning that such drastic legislation was coming.
“What offended me last week was nobody came to talk to us. I never had a heads up from anybody that they were looking at this noise bylaw…” said Savage. “There has to be some respect for the voices of people who were being impacted. We had a great debate on that [bylaw].”
The mayor said he is always willing to keep working with the province on the housing issue. But he believes the province should use more consultation, instead of legislation, to help solve the crisis.
“The key is we need to talk to each other. We need to work together. People are tired of this back and forth among politicians.
“It’s never been my style to go on the attack against anybody, but we have to stand up for ourselves. While we also stand up for the people whose voices need to be heard.”
Derek Montague is a Huddle reporter in Halifax. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].