Date:
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Council Chamber, 3rd Floor City Hall, 1841 Argyle Street Halifax
Agenda
Updated November 21/25 with revised motion for item 13.2.2 Administrative Order 10, Partial Tax Exemption Administrative Order and Land Titles Clarification Act Tax Relief
1. CALL TO ORDER AND LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
1.1 Annual Election of Chair
1.2 Annual Election of Vice Chair
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 15, 2025
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. MOTIONS OF RECONSIDERATION – NONE
7. MOTIONS OF RESCISSION – NONE
8. CONSIDERATION OF DEFERRED BUSINESS – NONE
9. NOTICES OF TABLED MATTERS – NONE
10. CORRESPONDENCE, PETITIONS & DELEGATIONS
10.1 Correspondence
10.2 Petitions
10.3 Presentations – None
11. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
12. INFORMATION ITEMS BROUGHT FORWARD – NONE
13. REPORTS
13.1 AUDITOR GENERAL
13.1.1 Recreation Program Planning Audit [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
13.1.2 Follow-up Review of Outstanding Recommendations – 2021 Audits: Management of Accounts Payable, and Transit Technology Project Management [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
13.2 STAFF
13.2.1 Proposed 2026 Meeting Schedule [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Standing Committee approve the proposed 2026 Audit and Finance Standing Committee meeting schedule as outlined in the staff memorandum.
13.2.2 Administrative Order 10, Partial Tax Exemption Administrative Order and Land Titles Clarification Act Tax Relief [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Standing Committee recommend Halifax Regional Council:
- Discharge the property taxes owed by Applicant 1 (as defined in the staff report dated August 13, 2025) for a total amount of $12,252.01.
- Discharge the property taxes owed by Applicant 2 (as defined in the staff report dated August 13, 2025) for a total amount of $5,892.27.
13.2.3 Request for financial support for purchase of six-unit building for use as affordable housing by Rooted: Community Development Partners [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Standing Committee recommend that Halifax Regional Council:
- Refuse the request by Rooted: Community Development Partners for a one-time grant to support the acquisition of a six-unit building in Spryfield.
- Direct staff, following the forthcoming Housing Strategy, to explore options to support acquisitions for use as affordable housing.
13.2.4 Orenda Canoe Club Request for HRM Funding [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance standing committee recommend that Halifax Regional Council approve a one-time financial contribution of $50,000 to the Orenda Canoe Club in fiscal 2025/2026, to be funded from the HRM Opportunity Reserve with such contribution to be contingent upon the Orenda Canoe Club’s execution of a Contribution Agreement, consistent with Administrative Order 2019-007-ADM, outlining terms, conditions, and reporting requirements governing the financial contribution.
13.2.5 Increase to Project No. CBE240005 - Structural Fire Training Prop [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Standing Committee recommend that Regional Council:
- Approve an additional $1,500,000 (net HST included) in debt financing.
- Increase the 2025/26 Capital Budget, Project Number CE240005 - Structural Fire Training Prop by $1,500,000 (net HST included).
- Award RFP 2025-0185 Design Build Fire Training Facility to the highest scoring bidder, Bird Construction Group, at a cost of $3,001,364 (net HST included) with funding from CE240005 Structure Fire Training Prop, as outlined in the Financial Implications section of the staff report dated October 1, 2025.
13.2.6 Second Quarter 2025-26 Financial Report [PDF]
- Presentation [PDF]
Motion:
That the Audit and Finance Standing Committee forward the Second Quarter 2025/26 Financial Report to Regional Council for their information.
14. MOTIONS - NONE
15. IN CAMERA (IN PRIVATE) – NONE
16. ADDED ITEMS
17. NOTICES OF MOTION
18. DATE OF NEXT MEETING – December 10, 2025
19. ADJOURNMENT
INFORMATION ITEMS
1. Memorandum from the Legislative Assistant dated November 19, 2025 re: Requests for Presentation to Audit and Finance Standing Committee – None [PDF]
2. Memorandum from the A/ Chief Administrative Officer dated November 17, 2025 re: CAO Contract Amendment Reporting [PDF]
For further information regarding this meeting, please contact Dorothy Maponga, Legislative Assistant, at Dorothy.maponga@halifax.ca or 902-478-2408
To submit correspondence, email clerks@halifax.ca
More information: https://www.halifax.ca/city-hall/regional-council/communicating-halifax-regional-council