August 26, 2026 Grants Committee

Agenda

1. CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1.1 African Nova Scotian Affirmation

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – June 24, 2026

3. APPROVAL OF THE ORDER OF BUSINESS AND APPROVAL OF ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS

4. BUSINESS ARISING OUT OF THE MINUTES
5. CALL FOR DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
6. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE

7. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
7.1 Correspondence 
7.2 Petitions
7.3 Presentations – None

8. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – NONE

9. REPORTS/DISCUSSION
9.1 STAFF
9.1.1 Rural Transit Funding Program 2026/27 [PDF]
Motion
That the Grants Committee recommend Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the Annual Base Program Grants, pursuant to the Rural Grants Administrative Order, for the 2026/27 fiscal year, to a maximum of $600,000, as set forth in Table 3 of the staff report dated July 30, 2026.

2. Approve grants in the amount of $14,151 to account for the additional kilometres driven by the rural transit service providers in 2025/26, which is in addition to the previously Council approved maximum of $503,851 as described in the financial implications section of the staff report dated July 30, 2026.

9.1.2 Tax Relief for Nonprofits 2026 [PDF]
Motion
That the Grants Committee recommend Halifax Regional Council:

1. Approve the renewal of tax relief for 860 properties listed in amended Schedules A through G of Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM, including the reassignment of nine properties from Schedule F as listed in Table 1a of the staff report dated August 20, 2026 at a combined cost of $9,325,892 from Operating Account M311-8006;

2. Approve the award of three (3) operating grants by resolution of the Council to transition organizations leasing commercial/private property removed from the tax relief program in fiscal 2024 as itemized in Table 2 of the staff report dated August 20, 2026, at a combined cost of $8,388 from Operating Account M311-8006;

3. Approve the addition of twenty-four (24) properties to Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM as listed in Table 3a and described in Attachment 3 of the staff report dated August 20, 2026 at an estimated combined cost of $407,109 from Operating Account M311- 8006;

4. Approve the deferral of an application from the Upper Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust, Equestrian Lane, Upper Hammonds Plains to the 2027/28 tax relief program;

5. Approve the removal of ten (10) properties from the program as identified in the Records Management section of the staff report dated August 20, 2026; and

6. Adopt the amendments to Administrative Order 2024-001-ADM, the Tax Relief Administrative Order, as set out in Attachment 2 to the staff report dated August 20, 2026.

10. ADDED ITEMS

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – September 16, 2026

12. ADJOURNMENT    

INFORMATION ITEMS

1. Memorandum from the Legislative Assistant dated August 19, 2026 re: Requests for Presentation to Grants Committee – NONE [PDF]

2. Memorandum from the Executive Director Finance, Chief Financial Officer dated July 27, 2026 re: Community Grants Program 2026 Key Performance Indicators [PDF]

For further information regarding this meeting, please contact Olawumi Odeyinka-Apantaku, Legislative Assistant, at Olawumi.Odeyinka-Apantaku@halifax.ca  or 902-717-6035.

To submit correspondence, email clerks@halifax.ca 
More information: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/communicating-halifax-regional-council