Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Downtown Business Leaders Call for Federal Action to Strengthen Public Safety, Invest in Downtowns, and Support Mental Health and Addiction Services
Halifax, N.S. – October 28, 2025 - As downtowns across Canada face rising crime, economic uncertainty, and the ongoing mental health and addiction crisis, the International Downtown Association of Canada (IDA Canada) is calling for stronger federal leadership to support the country’s downtown business communities.
Joining their counterparts from across the country today, and representing Halifax’s business communities, are Paul MacKinnon, CEO of the Downtown Halifax Business Commission (DHBC) and Tim Rissesco, CEO of the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission (DDBC).
“Public safety has been a top advocacy priority for DHBC, and I dare say, the other eight business improvement areas (BIAs) that represent Halifax Regional Municipality’s downtowns and main streets,” says DHBC’s Paul MacKinnon. “We welcomed last week’s announcement by Prime Minister Carney on bail reform and organized retail theft, as these are real challenges facing the thousands of business owners and employees that we represent. We look forward to seeing these changes in action and the positive outcomes they will bring!”
Downtown businesses continue to experience rising rates of crime, particularly violent offences, repeat theft, vandalism, and extortion. Theft is 3.5 times more likely in downtown areas than in rural communities, undermining the safety of business owners, employees, and visitors. As the government brings forward new public safety legislation, including measures on bail reform and repeat offenders, IDA Canada is calling for a multi-partisan approach that includes direct consultation with BIAs and the downtown business community to ensure federal policy reflects the realities on the ground.
“Downtowns are more than just commercial centres, they’re the foundation of our shared economy and community life,” says Kate Fenske, Chair of IDA Canada. “When our downtowns thrive, our entire country thrives. But without coordinated federal leadership, the challenges of safety, housing, and mental health will continue to erode public confidence and economic growth.”
Canada’s downtowns are critical drivers of national economic growth. Canadians living in downtown cores contribute nearly 15% percent more GDP per capita than those in rural areas. IDA Canada is calling on the government to make downtown investment a cornerstone of national infrastructure and economic development efforts by investing in housing density, supporting commercial revitalization, and ensuring downtowns are included in major nation-building projects that shape the future of the Canadian economy.
“While we’re here today, we (IDA Canada) are also calling for a coordinated national approach to ensure federal funding for mental health, addiction, and homelessness is tied to measurable outcomes and real results,” says DDBC’s Tim Rissesco. “Our downtowns are the epicentre of Canada’s mental health and addiction crisis, where visible homelessness and addiction continue to impact safety, business confidence, and livability.”
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