Press Release
Effectiveness is the ultimate goal in Council changes says Chamber
February 23, 2010 - Halifax, NS – As City Council begins its review of its size and structure, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce is reminding its members and council that, while it supports a smaller council as a means to an end, the ultimate goal of any change is to make council better.
“From tax decisions to setting infrastructure priorities, businesses in this city depend on an efficient and effective City Council to make the right choices for them, and to make them in a timely fashion,” says Valerie Payn. “It is critical that councillors work within the best structure possible. A structure that enables them to keep focused on their leadership role,” says the Chamber CEO.
A Committee of Council has recommended three options for change: the status quo with 23 councillors, or a smaller council of either 18 or 15. “A smaller Council may be the way to go, but it’s not the magic bullet. If we want to get arguments about cats and chickens off the Council agenda we need to realize that size isn’t everything,” says Payn. “Even the greatest leadership can be held hostage in a system that isn’t designed to get things done.”
“Theoretically, a smaller Council will be better able to work together, be more focused and cohesive,” adds Payn. “However, reducing the size of council alone won’t do the job. The onus will fall to the councillors to demonstrate their leadership and ensure we have an effective Council devoted to making Halifax a better, future focused city, without consideration to personal agendas or regional biases.”
Research has shown that when it comes to municipal best-practices, there’s no “one size fits all” model. According to the Conference Board of Canada, cities require councils that are big enough to address region wide problems, yet small enough to permit participation and responsiveness. “We know that a change to Council size won’t fix all of the problems at City Hall, but getting it on the table is a start.”
The Chamber encourages everyone to come out and make their voice heard on this issue. Information on meeting schedules and where to send written submissions can be found at www.halifax.ca/boundary/review . “Now is the time to be heard. I can assure you that the Chamber will advocate very vocally on this issue as the process and consultations progress,” says Payn.
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For more information contact:
Janet Creamer
Communications Manager
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
(902) 481-1240
cell: 499-6494



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