Below are the key findings from both the Citizens and Candidates polls.
Citizens Poll:
- 512 people responded between September 23 and October 4 – most (73%) were not members of Citizens for Halifax
- 67 per cent support changing HRM’s name officially from Halifax Regional Municipality to Halifax
- The strongest support for the name change came from Timberlea-Prospect (79%) and Dartmouth (80%).
- The most resistance to the name change came from Woodside/Eastern Passage (75%) and Cole Harbour (78%).
- 62 per cent of respondents support the division of the municipality into two units with smaller councils to better serve the rural and urban communities more effectively and efficiently (373 responded)
- 90% of respondents from Timberlea-Prospect (District 22) and 81% of residents in downtown Halifax (District 12) support the rural urban divide
- Eastern Shore – Musquodoboit Valley (District 1) and Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank (District 2) were 100 per cent against the division. Other districts opposing changes to municipal structure are Portland East Woodlawn (75%) and Middle and Upper Sackville-Lucasville (67%)
- 78 per cent are for tax reform that more closely aligns taxes with the actual cost of services delivered. (373 responded)
- 77 per cent are behind more aggressive development of the arts and culture sector by committing a minimum of 1 per cent of the annual municipal budget to this sector
- 71 per cent support the creation of a Chief Sustainability Officer with the necessary authority and budget to ensure Halifax becomes the most sustainable city in Canada by 2020.
- 75 per cent are for the development of a integrated intercultural strategy to attract and retain immigrants and to better support disadvantaged groups within our community.
- 87 per cent of respondents agree with the creation of a transportation authority to develop and implement a long term comprehensive transportation strategy that integrates all modes of transportation.
- 80 per cent support the adoption of a more transparent and streamlined development process as proposed by the HRM By Design initiative.
Click here for the
full survey results.
Candidates poll:- 32 Candidates responded, including mayoral candidate Sheila Fougere, between September 20 and October 4.
- 75 per cent of candidates were against the division of the municipality into two units with smaller councils to better serve the rural and urban communities more effectively and efficiently
- 72 per cent of candidates support municipal reform that would more closely align taxes with the actual cost of services delivered.
- Almost eight out of 10 (78%) candidates support more aggressive development of the arts and culture sectors by committing a minimum of one per cent of the annual municipal budget to this sector
- 72 per cent of candidates said yes to creating the position of chief sustainability officer with the necessary authority and budget to ensure Halifax becomes the most sustainable city in Canada by 2020.
- Almost all candidates (97%) agreed with the development of an integrated intercultural strategy to attract and retain immigrants and to better support disadvantaged groups within our community.
- 84 per cent said yes to the creation of a transportation authority to develop and implement a long term comprehensive transportation strategy that integrates all modes of transportation.
- Nearly nine in 10 candidates (88%) support adopting a more transparent and streamlined development process as proposed by the HRM By Design initiative.
Click here for the
full survey results.