Andy Fillmore, Halifax’s new mayor, loses motion to scrap designated encampment site list

A motion made by Halifax's newly-elected mayor to scrap a list of nine designated tent encampment sites was narrowly defeated, with some councillors calling the move "premature."

A motion made by Halifax’s newly-elected mayor to scrap a list of nine designated tent encampment sites was narrowly defeated, with some councillors calling the move “premature” and unnecessary.

The motion was defeated 8-7 on Tuesday after heated debate in council chambers.

Mayor Andy Fillmore’s motion aimed to remove the nine sites that were pre-approved in July, and instead have Regional Council “make decisions regarding designating sites going forward.” As it stands, the CAO has the authority to open any of the pre-approved designated sites.

The sites include the Halifax Common, Point Pleasant Park and the Geary Street Green Space. Some of the spots chosen raised eyebrows at the time for being inappropriate, with Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston declaring he nearly “fell off his chair” when he learned about the list.

But councillors voiced concerns Tuesday over what impact passing the motion would have on the unhoused population currently living at these sites.

“Later today, tomorrow, next week — nothing is different,” said Coun. Shawn Cleary. “I mean, virtue signaling is something you can use to describe this but really it’s meaningless. It’s like the apex of meaningless.”

But Fillmore said that tents are not “a solution,” and that the municipality needs to prioritize shelter space instead of encampments.

“There are vacancies across the system and if we’re providing alternatives to that that are not good for HRM residents or the people living rough, then we’re not doing our job,” he said.