DHBC's Provincial Election Guide

"Houston promises record spending on (HRM) roads, an increase in minimum wage and to get rid of the tolls on the Halifax Harbour Bridges."  

If RE-elected, the PCs will:

• Cut the harmonized sales tax by one percentage point, to 14 per cent, by April 1. (Announced shortly before election call.)
• Increase the basic personal exemption on the Nova Scotia income tax to $11,744 from $8,744.
• Increase minimum wage in 2025 to $16.50 per hour from $15.20 per hour.
• Remove the tolls from the two Halifax harbour bridges at a cost to government coffers of $40 million.
• Open a Halifax-based medical clinic to treat the symptoms of menopause, which would cost $4 million to set up and $2.4 million a year to operate.
• Establish a 30-member provincial travel nurse team to help areas with nursing shortages, part of an estimated $5.3-million pilot program to begin at the end of 2024.
• Reduce the minimum required down payment for first-time buyers on a home costing up to $500,000 to two per cent from five per cent under a loan program administered by local credit unions.
• Launch a universal shingles vaccine program for people 65 and older.
• Make parking free at all Nova Scotia hospitals and health-care centres at a cost of $8 million.
• Impose a cap on electricity rate increases that will be based on the average of rate hikes across the country. 
• Reduce the small business tax rate to 1.5 per cent from 2.5 per cent; increase the small business tax threshold to $700,000 from $500,000.

PC Party of Nova Scotia

"Churchill promises to build 80K more homes, expand rapid bus lanes and offer free public transit across Nova Scotia."

If elected, the Liberals will:

• Build 80,000 new homes and provide more protection for renters and invest into deeply affordable housing units. 
• $3,000 back in tax cuts.
• Make public transit free across province. (Announced in September)
• Cut harmonized sales tax by two points, to 13 per cent. (Announced in February)
• Establish the position of ethics commissioner with order-making powers; give more resources to auditor general.
• Grant order-making powers to the privacy commissioner so that rulings related to access to information requests and other privacy matters can be enforced.
• Implement fine of $250,000 for any governing party that defies law on fixed election date.
• Remove the provincial portion of the harmonized sales tax on all food that isn’t already tax-free, such as snack foods, granola products, and rotisserie chickens, at a cost of $11 million annually.
• Provide about $10 million in subsidies for independent grocers and food retailers in the form of grants and low-interest loans to help them expand and compete with big retailers.
• Lower provincial income taxes by raising the basic personal exemption amount to $15,705.
• Replace the federal carbon price with an Atlantic region cap-and-trade model for large industrial greenhouse gas emitters. 
• Promote flexible work arrangements to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
• Build 20 new collaborative care centres and expand services at 20 existing clinics to help tackle the province’s family doctor wait-list.
• Improve rent controls and close loopholes in the province’s regulations for fixed-term leases.
• Provide the public access to free menstrual products at all provincial buildings.
• Establish a provincial rent bank to provide zero-interest loans to renters who can’t pay their bills.
• Reduce immigration levels to align with provincial Labour Department targets.
• Offer a one-time $15,000 bonus to professionals such as pharmacists and therapists who commit to five years of service in the new collaborative care centres; double the existing incentive for doctors to $10,000 a year from $5,000.
• Create a minister of women’s health.

Nova Scotia Liberal Party

"Chender promises free ferry services, rent control, and to ban fixed-term leases."

If elected, the NDP's will:

• Remove HST from everyday items like groceries (cellphone and internet bills and for the purchase and installation of heat pumps.)
• Rectify the current 'Buy Local' campaign so it truly benefits small business owners.
• Enhance public transit by fast-tracking the HRM rapid transit plan and make ferry services free to ease road congestion. 
• Ban fixed-term rent leases and immediately slash the province’s rent cap in half to 2.5 per cent in order to prevent large annual rent increases. 
• Establish rent control and provide a tax credit for renters from low and middle-income households. 
• Prioritize the use of prefabricated housing to expand public housing stock. (Announced in May.)
• Increase loans to help with down payments on homes, to 10 per cent of purchase price (up from five per cent), for a maximum of $50,000; extend the repayment period to 25 years from 10 years. (Announced in May.)
• Reintroduce Coastal Protection Act to protect coastal areas, dunes and salt marshes, as well as to restrict development along parts of the 13,000-kilometre coastline at risk of heavy erosion.
• Offer an affordable homes rebate that would help households with incomes of less than $70,000 save an average of $900 per year on rent or mortgage payments.
• Create a compliance and enforcement unit for resolving tenant-landlord disputes.
• Open 45 doctor clinics across the province to provide primary care at a cost of $60 million in the first year of the plan. 
• Double the municipal finance grant to $30 million from $15 million in their first year of government.
• Establish a rent-to-own home program for Nova Scotians who earn less than $100,000 annually, with about 500 new homes built in the first year by using prefabricated construction. 

Nova Scotia NDP 

Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) takes the role of being your voice at the table with government very seriously. With a provincial election only days away, the time is now to get our priorities out there. 

DHBC's Current Advocacy Priorities 

October 30, 2024

Halifax, N.S. - With a provincial election less than 30 days away, the nine business improvement districts (BIDs) across the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) are working together to ensure their voice is heard.

“We work collaboratively on issues of mutual concern, and routinely share information and best practices with one another,” says Sue Uteck, Halifax BIDs Chair, and Executive Director of Spring Garden Area Business Association. “The campaign period is actually one of the best times to have our voices heard, as we can inform platforms, which can then become policy, in the next government.”

Business improvement districts (BIDs) are organizations, created and funded by local businesses, that provide essential services that support economic growth such as marketing, advocacy, and placemaking. HRM is home to nine active BIDs, working tirelessly across various communities, while more than 500 BIDs operate nationwide in Canada. 

After the November 26th election, the Halifax BIDs will be calling on the new provincial government to work collaboratively with them on identifying solutions to the ongoing challenges their members face on a day-to-day basis. 

“Our businesses continue to grapple with issues related to mental health, addictions, homelessness, theft, violent crime and urban development,” says Uteck. “To ensure the long-term prosperity of Halifax’s downtowns and main streets we have to work together on this.”

To read the full position letter submitted by the nine business improvement districts (Downtown Dartmouth, Downtown Halifax, North End Halifax, Porters Lake, Quinpool Area, Sackville, Spring Garden Area, Spryfield, Village on Main) see attachment, or click here. 

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Media Contact:

Jayme Lynn Butt  (she/her)

Communications Manager

Direct Line: 902.428.5433

jayme@downtownhalifax.ca

In June, DHBC, along with seven other business improvement districts (BIDs) in Halifax, sent a letter to Minister John Lohr. The letter states that we support an amendment to the HRM Charter that would enable the municipality to establish a fund to help mitigate the negative financial impact some construction projects have on local businesses. 

If this is important to you, make sure your local MLA candidates know, and ask their stance, before placing your vote. 

June 25, 2024 - Our letter to Minister Lohr 

July 17, 2024 - Response to HRM BIDs from Minister Lohr