Houston government softens language in transportation bill

The Houston government has softened language in a bill that would give it sweeping new powers over transit and transportation infrastructure throughout the province, but the advocacy group for Nova Scotia municipalities remains concerned it still isn't enough.

The original language in the proposed changes to the Joint Regional Transportation Agency Act suggested the province could unilaterally undertake projects to build or remove infrastructure, or "do anything necessary" to ensure the smooth movement of people and goods.

According to Bill 24, the provincial government could simply pass on the cost of the work to a municipality once the project was completed.

The Federation of Nova Scotia Municipalities, the organization that speaks for the province's municipal governments, called that original language "tremendously concerning."

Amendments introduced Tuesday during debate on the bill noted the province would try to consult and negotiate with municipalities on projects it felt were necessary. 

"The cost of any work undertaken … shall be apportioned between the municipality and the Crown in right of the Province in the manner agreed upon by them," said one amendment.

But the next amendment made it clear the province would keep its power to pass along the costs, if there was no agreement between the parties.

Pam Mood, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, said the thrust of the bill remains "a huge concern."

"What it said before is we are going to come in, we're going to tell you this is what needs to be done, we're going to tell you to do it and if you don't do it in a reasonable amount of time, we're going to come in and do it and bill you," said Mood, the mayor of Yarmouth.

"But now it … basically says apportioning costs of work in a manner agreed upon. We'll have to sit down and figure out how that [will] work."

The proposed legislation now says the municipal affairs minister will "make reasonable efforts" to consult the federation and municipalities "impacted by ministerial action taken pursuant to this Act."

Mood wasn't impressed with that change either.

"That doesn't equal doing so," she said. "When you say I'll make an effort to do something, you're saying if it happens, it happens, if it doesn't, it doesn't. That's simply not enough."

During an exchange with reporters intended to explain the changes, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley downplayed how upset some municipal leaders had been with the original version of the bill.