Sam Austin

Council Update: Budget 2026 Begins - Sam Austin Agenda, November 19 Budget 2026The 2026 budget process is now underway. Over the next 4-5 months, staff and Council will complete a detailed review of all of HRM’s plans for 2026. Unfortunately, this ...

My latest Council blog. 2026 Budget deliberations are underway. It's going to be a difficult year! Early ins and outs from our opening meeting and the lines of debate that are shaping up samaustin.ca/council-upda...

Tomorrow, Friday Nov 28 I'll be holding open hour at Port City Coffee in Alderney Landing from 9:30 - 11:00. Pop by for 5-10 minute chat, no appointment necessary.

No idea. It's a long, long process that won't conclude until March/April so wherever today's debate lands, it won't be the final number for taxes or service cuts or anything. It's all setting the table right now.

Budget deliberations are underway at City Hall. Mayor's motion, that seems to be out of order, and will have to be adjusted or be moved as an alternative... Winds of austerity swirling at City Hall

That's what folks are saying over on facebook!

Candlelight concert at the Sanctuary Arts Centre for the North Grove. Rostova String Quartet bringing a classical twist to popular music (they’re truly excellent!)

Some pics from what’s under the surface at Dartmouth Cove from today’s bioblitz

Tomorrow, Friday Nov 14, a bonus open hour, but in the afternoon. I’ll be at Marco Polo from 2-3. Pop by for 5-10 minutes of my time, no appointment necessary. FYI I’ll have a young job shadower along with me

Lake Major Returns to Voluntary Restrictions

Due to recent precipitation, Halifax Water’s source water supply has started to replenish and recover. Effective immediately, all customers serviced by Lake Major are returned to voluntary water restrictions.

halifaxwater.ca/alert/lake-m...

1/2

Lots of creativity at the Dartmouth Cove protest

Today: A busy one. Conversation with staff re government relations, Dartmouth Cove protest (see post below), hoping to swing by opening of a new health clinic on Wyse Road, Transportation Committee agenda review, and Mobile Food Market 10th anniversary celebration

Nice!

Today: Day 2 of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference opens with several provincial ministers speaking. Harbour East Community Council meets tonight

Council Update: Museum Strategy, HalifACT Update - Sam Austin Agenda, October 28 Museum StrategyThe Regional Museum Strategy was before Council last week. HRM has been considering two different approaches towards the museum question, (1) create a new Regional Mu...

My Council update for last week's meeting: the museum strategy and HalifACT Update. Read it here. samaustin.ca/council-upda...

Today: Day one of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Conference. A variety of sessions today including presentations from the new Minister of Municipal Affairs, John MacDonald and Claudia Chender

Haven’t looked at the conference agenda. I doubt it. Provinces municipalities spent years trying to get the Province to change CAP with zero success. Came close but it was Houston that bailed on the all-party consensus. No political chance to change anything unless the public pressures Prov

Today: The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference is this week. I’m on the NSFM board and today was an all day board meeting. A pretty light show out the window courtesy of Mother Nature!

E-News November 2025 - Sam Austin News Dartmouth CoveOn October 7, after a lengthy public hearing, Council approved implementing restrictions on infilling water lots in Dartmouth Cove. The decision affects nine properties, was a long-...

My e-news for November: the province signals they’re planning to overturn HRMs Dartmouth Cove decision, neighbour mediation, community crisis team, a possible new sidewalk in Crichton Park, naturalization at Albro Lake and more. Read it here samaustin.ca/e-news-novem...

Bike stats for October 2025. 64,562 trips recorded on HRM's counters.

Far too many politicians are being allowed to successfully weaponize common nonsense.

#CommonNonsense

You know it’s a beautiful day when the turtle at Sullivans Pond is out soaking up the sun

Today: Started with Cafe Good Luck for Open Hour. Next check in with my coordinator. Interview with Global. Then the ongoing email project (215!)

Reminder. I'll be at Cafe Good Luck tomorrow morning for open office hours. 9:30 - 11:00.

Today: Winter Works orientation with staff and Council colleagues, then it was Transportation Standing Committee this afternoon. Squeezed in a bit more progress on the inbox (really trying to get it back on track. 387 so more or less treaded water today.

Today: Met with staff and Council Dartmouth colleagues regarding Portland Street Plan, Council budget information session (process, not decisions), and emails (408).

Today: Met with Claudia Chender and several Council colleagues, worked on emails (616), and Port Community Liaison Committee this evening.

Yeah. That's much harder to do. The ferry doesn't scale well because it takes a minimum of 4 to operate it. Transport Canada has strict rules and people also want an outside life from work. With small labour pool, it's often just not possible to scale up for events/circumstances

MacKay Bridge to close Oct. 24-26 weekend: HHB offers free ferry service - Halifax Harbour Bridges Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) is advising drivers that the A. Murray MacKay Bridge will be...

This is a really good move by the Bridge Commission. Ferry is free this weekend as the MacKay Bridge will be closed. More of a whole transportation approach! halifaxharbourbridges.ca/news/mackay-...

Today: No scheduled meetings so it's been a tackle the email backlog sort of day. 679 to go.

Reminder that I'll be doing my Open Hour tomorrow morning at Port City at Alderney Landing. I'll be there there from 9:30-11:00 for anyone that wants to bend my ear for 10 minutes.