Halifax Regional Municipality, commonly referred to as HRM is a Canadianregional municipality, the largest population centre in both the Province of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic region, the provincial capital, and a major economic centre of Canada's east coast.
Halifax Regional Municipality (2001 population, 359,111) was created in 1996, through the amalgamation of the Municipal services and councils of cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, the town of Bedford, and the Municipality of the County of Halifax. The regional municipality's boundary includes all of Halifax County except for several First Nation reserves.
The settlements within HRM retain their place names for legal, mapping, Mail, 9-1-1 and other services. The name "Halifax Regional Municipality" does not refer to any individual location, including the former City of Halifax; it may only be used to describe the entire region. It is common for residents and media personalities of the former City of Halifax to mistakenly use HRM to refer solely to their own community.
The urban core area of HRM is located in the western end of the municipality, fronting on Halifax Harbour in the Halifax - Dartmouth and Bedford area and constitutes the most populous urban area on Canada's Atlantic coast, and the second largest coastal population centre in the country, after Vancouver, British Columbia. HRM currently accounts for 40% of Nova Scotia's population, and 15% of that of the Atlantic provinces. The western and most of the eastern parts of the municipality are rural.
The community of Hubbards is actually in both HRM and Lunenburg County. Enfield is shared with County of Hants.
In 1993, the Conservative provincial government of Nova Scotia began to consider merging the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth with the town of Bedford and Halifax County. Halifax, Dartmouth and Bedford were densely populated municipalities, while Halifax County was largely rural with large areas of wilderness. Amalgamating these regions had been proposed as far back as 1974.
Expectations and reactions
Bill Hayward was hired by the Conservatives to prepare a report on the potential savings resulting from the merger. Before the report was completed, the Conservatives were defeated in the provincial election and the Liberals took power.
John Savage became the Premier at this time, and he had previously declared the Halifax regional amalgamation a crazy idea. However, he imposed amalgamation on Cape Breton in 1994 as a means to prevent the bankruptcy of several Cape Breton towns. This merger went relatively smoothly and seemed to achieve the predicted economic goals. Savage's government decided to proceed with the Halifax merger, with Bill Hayward overseeing the process.
Hayward's report predicted that Halifax regional amalgamation would save over $20 million annually, through reductions in duplication of services and the elimination of many high-level administrative positions.
Many residents of the affected areas were against the merger. Rural areas tended to generate the most opposition, with people fearing that they would be forced to pay higher taxes and follow urban standards without receiving higher service. Hayward's predicted cost savings were widely criticized as unrealistic, with a general feeling that he had arbitrarily determined the figures. Politicians were also divided on the merger, as many saw the influence of their localities being much reduced in the new municipality which would be dominated by the former cities of Halifax and Dartmouth. Many of the positions occupied by these rural politicians would be eliminated by the merger.
Actual debate of the planned amalagamation was minimal, with a few sparsely attended public information sessions and some political discussion. The prevailing attitude was that amalagamation was inevitable and could not be stopped. The New Democratic Party called for a plebiscite, which did not happen.
Incorporation of the Halifax Regional Municipality
In 1995, an Act to Incorporate the Halifax Regional Municipality received Royal Assent in the provincial legislature and the Halifax Regional Municipality was established on April 1, 1996. HRM is an amalgamation of all municipal governments in Halifax County, these being the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, town of Bedford, and Municipality of the County of Halifax within the area of Halifax County. Sable Island, being part of Halifax County, is also jurisdictionally part of HRM, despite being located 180 km offshore. The population of HRM is 359,111 according to the 2001 census, making it Canada's 11th largest population centre.
Aftermath
There were many initial problems with the merger. Many of the predicted cost savings did not materialize, and some savings achieved by eliminating jobs were offset by the fact that staff from rural areas now demanded to paid at the same rate as their urban counterparts. The initial costs of merging doubled from initial estimates. Small scandals such as the purchase of $1,000 chairs for the new council cast a negative light on the process, and unflattering articles in the national media portrayed the Halifax amalgamation as an example of how not to merge municipalities. Halifax was repeatedly referenced as a scenario to avoid as Toronto planned its own amalagamation.
Since amalgamation, the municipality has experienced dramatic growth and prosperity. However, these benefits have mostly flowed to the former cities of Halifax and Dartmouth, with many rural areas of HRM continuing to experience economic stagnation and decline.
In 2004, there was some discussion in the eastern section of applying to the province of Nova Scotia to form thier own municipality. This was due to the perceived lack of services to and representation from this part of HRM.
Notable persons born in/from the Halifax Regional Municipality
Main Article: Climate and Geography of the Halifax Regional Municipality
HRM's climate is heavily influenced by its location on Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast. The weather, while notoriously unpredictable, is usually milder than that of central Canada, with the temperature remaining (with occasional notable exceptions) between about -15°C (23°F) and 28°C (80°F) inland but the coast can be milder in the winter and cooler in the summer with the oceans influence .
The Halifax Regional Municipality has an area of 5,577 km² [link] which is a little smaller than the province of Prince Edward Island, and measures approximately 165 km in length between its eastern and western-most extremeties. HRM's shoreline is approximately 400 km in length, while its northern boundary is usually between 50-60 km inland. The coast, which is mostly rock with small isolated sand beaches in sheltered bays, is heavily indented by numerous inlets, the largest of which are St. Margaret's Bay, Halifax Harbour,Cole Harbour,Musquodoboit Harbour,Jeddore Harbour, Ship Harbour, and Sheet Harbour . Given this fact, it takes approximately 3.5 hours to drive along the shore from Hubbards, located in the southwestern end of HRM, to Moser River, 195 km (120 mi) away at the southeastern end.
Education
The Halifax Regional School Board is responsible for administering the 150 public schools located within HRM providing instruction from primary to grade 12. There are also 14 independent/private schools in the municipality.
A sailing ship leaves Halifax Harbour as part of Tall Ships 2004.
The largest employer in HRM is government, with most provincial government departments headquartered in the area, as well as many regional offices for federal government departments and agencies. The Department of National Defence is the largest single employer and Halifax Harbour continues to serve a major military purpose as home port for Maritime Forces Atlantic. CFB Halifax is Canada's largest naval base and the nation's largest military base in number of personnel. This base is comprised of various shore-based facilities including HMC Dockyard, Stadacona, CFAD Bedford, and other adjunct facilities throughout HRM and central Nova Scotia. Approximately 2/3 of the navy's major ships are home ported in Halifax. Another major military facility is located at 12 Wing, CFB Shearwater in Eastern Passage. This is the home base of naval aviation in Canada and is presently used as a heliport for the CH-124 Sea King.
The largest influence on HRM's economy is its port and related spin-offs. Halifax Harbour is strategically located just north of the Great Circle Route between western Europe and the Eastern Seaboard of North America as the first inbound, last outbound major port of call on the continent with strategic rail connections to central and western Canada and the United States. The port has two major container terminals, a medium-sized oil refinery, numerous general cargo piers and more specialized cargo handling piers for products such as automobiles and bulk gypsum.
For more detailed information on the port, consult main article Halifax Harbour.
Port facilities are also increasingly used for logistics support of offshore natural gas production platforms near Sable Island, and for ongoing oil and gas exploration. The port has a shipyard and the eastern side of the harbour is home to Canadian Coast Guard Base Dartmouth and the internationally renowned Bedford Institute of Oceanography. In recent years, there has been an increase in number of cruise ships through a redeveloped passenger terminal at Pier 21. The port is also the eastern terminus of the transcontinental Canadian National Railway which maintains extensive facilities around the waterfront.
HRM is a major exporter of beer, being home to the Keith's brewery; there are numerous local specialty beers produced in micro-breweries. Another important export is chocolate, produced originally by the locally-owned Moir's company, now owned by Hershey Foods. The aerospace industry has an increasing significance in the regional economy, through engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney Canada, and IMP Aerospace, as well as the increasing passenger and cargo traffic at Halifax International Airport.
The economy of HRM has been relatively strong in the past decade, largely as a result of an increasing trend toward urbanization; Atlantic Canada is one of the last regions in Canada to undergo such a transformation. Another important ingredient in HRM's growth has been a major investment in offshore oil and gas exploration, resulting in many high-paying jobs locating to the area. Halifax Harbour was also the staging site for much of the development of the Sable Offshore Energy natural gas project during the late 1990s, as well as somewhat smaller crude oil development projects during the 1970s-1990s.
Unemployment is relatively low (5.3% as of January 2006) and is well below both the provincial and national averages. The number of construction projects for residential and commercial structures has grown steadily; notably in suburban areas such as Clayton Park and Lower Sackville although the downtown core has recently seen a resurgence, which has included several high rise proposals. One impact relating to the strength of the economy has been the gentrification of some former working-class areas of the city, such as downtown and north-end Dartmouth and the North End of the Halifax Peninsula. In the latter case, a formerly working class area which was reconstructed following its devastation in the disaster of 1917 is now home to many affluent people, with the resulting change in character of some of its neighbourhoods. The South End (of the peninsula) has remained a traditionally wealthy district. Some areas of HRM are known for their concentrations of lower income housing, urban neglect and a preception of higher rates of crime, notably Spryfield in HRM's Mainland South district, the Gottingen Street area in the peninsula's North End, as well as remaining areas of north end Dartmouth and certain pockets of Lower Sackville.
Another change in recent years has been the extensive redevelopment of the waterfront in Halifax, Bedford, and Dartmouth. Traditionally the focus has been industry and shipping. However, with changes in shipping technology, larger ships now use container terminals or other harbour facilities, leaving the waterfronts along the Halifax and Dartmouth urban core relatively unused (aside from naval and shipyard activities). Many former industrial waterfront areas have been converted to commercial use to attract the tourist trade.
Culture, Sport, and Media
Halifax from MacDonald Bridge
''See Main Article: Culture, Sport and Media in Halifax Regional Municipality
HRM's urban core is the highest population centre in Atlantic Canada and is the major cultural centre within the region. The municipality's urban core also benefits from a large population of post-secondary students who strongly influence the local cultural scene. HRM has a number of art galleries, theatres and museums, as well as most of the region's national-quality sports and entertainment facilities. The region is noted for the strength of its music scene. HRM has also become a significant film-production centre, with many American and Canadian filmmakers using the city's streetscapes, often to stand in for other cities that are more expensive to work in.
HRM has become adept at attracting national and international events, such as the 2003World Junior Hockey Championship, 2003 Nokia Brier, the 2004 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships, the 2007World Indoor Lacrosse Championships and the 2006 Juno Awards. The city hosts the Quebec Major Junior team the Halifax Mooseheads, as well as many local and university teams. Since 1984, the city has been home to the CIS Men's Basketball Championship. Halifax has considered lobbying to have a CFL team located in the area, though the proposal has never been formally endorsed by the municipal or Provincial governments. For more than twenty five years it has hosted an international military tattoo, which in 2006 was granted the right to be known as the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo by HRH Queen Elizabeth II.
HRM is the Maritimes' centre for broadcast and print media. CBC, CTV and Global Television all have regional television hubs in the Halifax area. There are also regional hubs for CBC Radio ,Rogers Radio and the Canadian Press/Broadcast News. Several newspapers publish in the HRM, including the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, the Halifax Daily News, and The Coast.
Halifax was chosen as Canada's 2014 Commonwealth Games bid. The host of the 2014 games will be selected November 92007 in Sri Lanka.
Halifax is a sister city of Hakodate, Japan and Norfolk, Virginia.
Government
Local
Halifax skyline at night
The Halifax Regional Municipality is governed by a mayor (elected at large) and a twenty-three person regional council, who are elected by geographic district; municipal elections occur every leap year. HRM has established "community councils" where three or more councilors agree to form these councils to deal primarily with local development issues. Most community council decisions are subject to approval by regional council. Council has responsibility for the Halifax Regional Police Department, the Halifax Regional Library, the Halifax Regional Fire Department, Halifax Regional Water Commission, parks and recreation, public works and waste management, among other issues.
Police and Fire Services
Two areas of contention during the post-amalgamation years have been in the areas of fire and police services. HRPD is an amalgamation of the municipal forces from the City of Halifax, City of Dartmouth, and Town of Bedford. Areas that were formerly part of the Municipality of Halifax County were previously policed by the RCMP under a provincial policing contract. Since amalgamation, the HRPD has been restricted to primarily the urban core while RCMP still provide rural policing services, as well as highway traffic enforcement. Jurisdictional boundaries have been relaxed in recent years, allowing more integration between both forces to allow for better coverage and response. Unlike policing services, HRFD is an amalgamation of all fire departments in Halifax County. This created some controversy in rural areas where predominantly volunteer fire companies were being stripped of equipment and trucks which local communities had fund-raised for during the pre-amalgamation period; this equipment was being relocated to service the urban core. This has since been halted, although there is still some tension between the professional paid HRFD members in the urban core and their volunteer rural counterparts.
Argyle street
Haligonians
The term Haligonians has not been borrowed since amalgamation to apply more broadly to all residents of HRM, because many citizens in Dartmouth, Bedford and smaller centres in the municipality tend to avoid use of the term when applied to themselves. In fact, despite amalgamation, most residents of the municipality, maps, (and Canada Post) still refer to the names of the pre-amalgamation municipalities when describing geographic areas.
Budget
Since its creation, rapid property value increases have resulted in HRM's budget growing to $589 million in 2005/06, up from $439 million in 1996. This has allowed HRM to proceed with major capital projects such as an extension of municipally-supplied water to Fall River, breaking ground on the new sewage treatment system (called the Harbour Solutions project), and establishment of Metrolink, a bus rapid transit system.
In the last three provincial elections over 50% of the population of HRM who voted, has voted for the provincial New Democratic Party, placing the region's voters outside the mainstream of provincial politics in outlying more rural areas which are split between a Liberal/Conservative voting pattern. It can be argued that HRM's recent voting pattern has actually placed the provincial (and federal) NDP or social-democratic politics in general, into the political mainstream for the province and the Maritimes as a whole.
HRM is the eastern terminus of the Canadian National Railway, which provides direct freight service to Montreal, Toronto, and Chicago for cargo arriving at either of the Port of Halifax's two container terminals, or the port's general cargo and specialized cargo piers. VIA Rail Canada also operates the Ocean, a passenger train to Truro, Moncton, and Montreal six days a week.
Roadways
The two urban core communities are linked by two suspension bridges: the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, opened in 1955, and the A. Murray MacKay Bridge, opened in 1970. Residents refer to these as the Old (or South) Bridge and New (or North) Bridge, respectively. A passenger ferry system run by Metro Transit also connects peninsular Halifax and Dartmouth with regular services throughout the day and is the oldest saltwater ferry service operating in North America. High-speed ferries are being planned to connect downtown Halifax with Shannon Park, Bedford, the South Mainland, and Eastern Passage.
Traffic is problematic in many older parts of the urban core area for several reasons. The Halifax Peninsula, similar to an island, has several bottleneck points through which any traffic leaving the area must pass:
the Fairview interchange to the Highway 102 freeway
the Bedford Highway
Density is increasing somewhat on the peninsula, but the population of workers living in suburban areas or commuting from more distant exurban/outlying areas has increased at a much higher rate in recent decades. Roads in existing developed suburban areas and the historic districts on the Halifax Peninsula cannot be easily expanded. A proposed bridge across the Northwest Arm to relieve traffic congestion on the Armdale Rotary (it would connect at South Street near Dalhousie University) has been rejected several times by residents of the affluent South End. A controversial proposal in 2003-04 to widen Robie Street, the major north-south artery on the peninsula, resulted in protests, leading to a compromised, smaller expansion of the road, which still suffers from rush-hour congestion today.
Many of the newer neighbourhoods benefit from a network of expressways (Nova Scotia 100-series highways) which were designed for modern automobile traffic in the early 1980s (Highway 101, Highway 102, Highway 103, Highway 107, Highway 111, and Highway 118) however these roads serve mainly to dump high-speed traffic onto the existing urban low-speed street network.
Mass Transit
The HRM urban core is served by Metro Transit. The main forms of public transportation are the regular transit buses and a new bus-rapid transit system, as well as the harbour ferries. The mayor, Peter Kelly, and several regional councillors also favour instituting a commuter rail or a modern tram system on current and abandoned railway lines in the region. This plan would require provincial and federal funding and coordination and is pending the provincial government's creation of a regional transportation planning authority, similar to what eastern Massachusetts did in the 1960s when MBTA was created. A Community Transit bus service is run by Metro Transit, serving the communities of Beaver Bank, Fall River, East Preston, Lake Echo, Porters Lake and Grand Desert. There is no public transit available for residents in the other more rural areas of the municipality, a fact which has become a growing bone of contention in the urban-rural tension within the region.
Bicycle
Regional council has also stated an interest in improving bicycle transport in the urban core, however since the 2000 municipal election little has been accomplished. A part-time coordinating position was created to oversee the planning and implementation of a bicycle transport plan but this position was eliminated during budget cuts in 2003 with little other than planning/reporting having been accomplished. Overall, HRM remains fairly difficult for bicycles, partially as a result of geography and climate, but also the increased traffic congestion. Despite these setbacks there has been a small increase in the number of bicycle lanes and designated bike routes in the urban core.
Driver Attitude
There is a perceived belief that car drivers in HRM are unusually courteous in comparison with drivers in other North American cities. There is no empirical evidence to support such a claim, however drivers in the region have been witnessed on occasion to yield to pedestrians crossing the road (even illegally), usually within the downtown urban core of the Halifax Peninsula; this has been colloquially referred to as a "Nova Scotian traffic jam". As with any growing urban area, the increasing traffic congestion has also been leading to more car-pedestrian and car-bicycle accidents. Speeding and street-racing have become major sources of concern for residents in many districts within the municipality. There recently has been a growing of loud mufflers on both motorcycles and on cars however, the province does not allow municipalities to make their own bylaws regarding what can be on a motor vehicle.
See also: List of buildings in the Halifax Regional Municipality
The Halifax Regional Municipality has a higher proportion of historic buildings compared with other municipalities in Canada, particularly in the downtown urban core. Preservationists and heritage advocacy organizations have attempted to prevent their demolition by developers in recent decades. Such groups have been criticized for stunting the centralization of urban growth and for stopping buildings from being built on empty land containing little to no historic value.
The urban core communities the Halifax Peninsula and former city of Dartmouth are home to several modern office buildings, however the downtown core area in the former city of Halifax is governed by height restrictions which prevent buildings from obstructing the sight line between Citadel Hill and the Halifax Harbour/Georges Island. This is why taller buildings are sometimes built in unusual locations, to get around the restrictions.
Demographics
Approximately 18% of the population is under the age of 14, while 11% are 65 and older.
The information regarding ethnicities at the right is from the [2001 Canadian Census].
The percentages add to more than 100% because of dual responses (e.g. "French-Canadian" generates an entry in both the category "French" and the category "Canadian".) Groups with greater than 3,000 responses are included.
