News Release

Mayor Kelly to Party Leaders: Choose shovels over polls

(Wednesday, April 29, 2009) - A spring election call could keep shovels out of the ground for the coming construction season, postponing significant infrastructure projects that are crucial to the provincial economy, says HRM Mayor Peter Kelly.

“Municipalities cannot afford to lose this construction season to a provincial election,”says Mayor Kelly. “The economic health of our municipality and our region rests on the kind of stimulus that comes from investing in big projects that get people working and keep them working.”

The Mayor urged all political party leaders to work together in the interest of the Nova Scotians they represent, some of whom are experiencing the recession first-hand in job losses, investment losses, and looming uncertainty about the future.

Our citizens don’t want an election, they want real investment in their communities and they want representatives from all levels of government to work together to ensure it happens.”

HRM has identified significant construction projects that are ready to proceed under the infrastructure stimulus package, but the projects are on hold until the province puts Ottawa’s money in municipal hands. Included in HRM’s long list of projects are: A new four-surface arena, a replacement for the central library, the removal of the Cogswell interchange, transit and active transportation improvements, as well as a potential new downtown convention centre.

“The Halifax Regional Municipality is ready to move on these major projects that will improve the economic position of our region and enhance our quality of life. Whatever their differences are, I encourage the leaders to work them out, so that there will not be a forced election that would detract from the main issue; which is the economy,” Mayor Kelly concluded.

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Contact:

Mayor Peter Kelly
(902)-490-4010