Councillors vote down motion to turn part of Halifax Common into designated tent area

By CityNews Halifax Staff

Halifax Regional Council has voted against turning part of the Halifax Common into a dedicated tent site for people experiencing homelessness.

Last night, 12 councillors voted against the motion and four voted in favour of it.

A homeless strategy report also suggested that Grand Parade and the southern end of Victoria Park be turned into designated tent sites in addition to Halifax Common to address overcrowding issues.

Council did pass four recommendations from the staff report, among them, directing staff to lease private property as locations for people experiencing homelessness to shelter.

During the debate, Halifax councillors directed much of their ire in the direction of the provincial government.

Haligonians have heard councillors in the past talk about housing being a provincial responsibility but on Tuesday, there was a new level of frustration with the province.

“How can you sleep at night, premier,” asked Coun. Tony Mancini during the debate. “How do you go to sleep at night knowing we have residents that are living rough?”

He wasn’t the only councillor who used their time at the discussion to chastise the Premier and province.

Deputy Mayor Sam Austin says this is a crisis, but the province doesn’t treat it that way.

“You look at the contrast out in Tantallon where you have a wildfire,” he said. “Within a month, you have a plan to bring in housing. How long have we been asking for help, pleading with our provincial government for some action on this — it’s going on three years now.”

HRM says it has asked the province to provide land for people to use for shelter, but that has yet to be implemented.