Sam Austin
@samaustind5.bsky.social
Halifax Regional Municipality Councillor
District 5 Dartmouth Centre
District 5 Dartmouth Centre
Today: Day 2 of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference opens with several provincial ministers speaking. Harbour East Community Council meets tonight
November 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Today: Day 2 of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference opens with several provincial ministers speaking. Harbour East Community Council meets tonight
My Council update for last week's meeting: the museum strategy and HalifACT Update. Read it here. samaustin.ca/council-upda...
Council Update: Museum Strategy, HalifACT Update - Sam Austin
Agenda, October 28 Museum StrategyThe Regional Museum Strategy was before Council last week. HRM has been considering two different approaches towards the museum question, (1) create a new Regional Mu...
samaustin.ca
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 AM
My Council update for last week's meeting: the museum strategy and HalifACT Update. Read it here. samaustin.ca/council-upda...
Today: Day one of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Conference. A variety of sessions today including presentations from the new Minister of Municipal Affairs, John MacDonald and Claudia Chender
November 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Today: Day one of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities Conference. A variety of sessions today including presentations from the new Minister of Municipal Affairs, John MacDonald and Claudia Chender
Today: The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference is this week. I’m on the NSFM board and today was an all day board meeting. A pretty light show out the window courtesy of Mother Nature!
November 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Today: The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities conference is this week. I’m on the NSFM board and today was an all day board meeting. A pretty light show out the window courtesy of Mother Nature!
My e-news for November: the province signals they’re planning to overturn HRMs Dartmouth Cove decision, neighbour mediation, community crisis team, a possible new sidewalk in Crichton Park, naturalization at Albro Lake and more. Read it here samaustin.ca/e-news-novem...
E-News November 2025 - Sam Austin
News Dartmouth CoveOn October 7, after a lengthy public hearing, Council approved implementing restrictions on infilling water lots in Dartmouth Cove. The decision affects nine properties, was a long-...
samaustin.ca
November 4, 2025 at 11:54 AM
My e-news for November: the province signals they’re planning to overturn HRMs Dartmouth Cove decision, neighbour mediation, community crisis team, a possible new sidewalk in Crichton Park, naturalization at Albro Lake and more. Read it here samaustin.ca/e-news-novem...
Bike stats for October 2025. 64,562 trips recorded on HRM's counters.
Previous year counts for Oct:
2025: 64,562
2024: 64,426
2023: 55,801
2022: 34,774
2021: 34,612
2020: 6,210
2019: 4,619
2018: 13,068
2025: 64,562
2024: 64,426
2023: 55,801
2022: 34,774
2021: 34,612
2020: 6,210
2019: 4,619
2018: 13,068
November 4, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Bike stats for October 2025. 64,562 trips recorded on HRM's counters.
Reposted by Sam Austin
Far too many politicians are being allowed to successfully weaponize common nonsense.
#CommonNonsense
#CommonNonsense
October 30, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Far too many politicians are being allowed to successfully weaponize common nonsense.
#CommonNonsense
#CommonNonsense
You know it’s a beautiful day when the turtle at Sullivans Pond is out soaking up the sun
October 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
You know it’s a beautiful day when the turtle at Sullivans Pond is out soaking up the sun
Today: Started with Cafe Good Luck for Open Hour. Next check in with my coordinator. Interview with Global. Then the ongoing email project (215!)
October 24, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Today: Started with Cafe Good Luck for Open Hour. Next check in with my coordinator. Interview with Global. Then the ongoing email project (215!)
Reminder. I'll be at Cafe Good Luck tomorrow morning for open office hours. 9:30 - 11:00.
October 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Reminder. I'll be at Cafe Good Luck tomorrow morning for open office hours. 9:30 - 11:00.
Today: Winter Works orientation with staff and Council colleagues, then it was Transportation Standing Committee this afternoon. Squeezed in a bit more progress on the inbox (really trying to get it back on track. 387 so more or less treaded water today.
October 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Today: Winter Works orientation with staff and Council colleagues, then it was Transportation Standing Committee this afternoon. Squeezed in a bit more progress on the inbox (really trying to get it back on track. 387 so more or less treaded water today.
Today: Met with staff and Council Dartmouth colleagues regarding Portland Street Plan, Council budget information session (process, not decisions), and emails (408).
October 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Today: Met with staff and Council Dartmouth colleagues regarding Portland Street Plan, Council budget information session (process, not decisions), and emails (408).
Today: Met with Claudia Chender and several Council colleagues, worked on emails (616), and Port Community Liaison Committee this evening.
October 22, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Today: Met with Claudia Chender and several Council colleagues, worked on emails (616), and Port Community Liaison Committee this evening.
This is a really good move by the Bridge Commission. Ferry is free this weekend as the MacKay Bridge will be closed. More of a whole transportation approach! halifaxharbourbridges.ca/news/mackay-...
MacKay Bridge to close Oct. 24-26 weekend: HHB offers free ferry service - Halifax Harbour Bridges
Halifax Harbour Bridges (HHB) is advising drivers that the A. Murray MacKay Bridge will be...
halifaxharbourbridges.ca
October 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
This is a really good move by the Bridge Commission. Ferry is free this weekend as the MacKay Bridge will be closed. More of a whole transportation approach! halifaxharbourbridges.ca/news/mackay-...
Today: No scheduled meetings so it's been a tackle the email backlog sort of day. 679 to go.
October 20, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Today: No scheduled meetings so it's been a tackle the email backlog sort of day. 679 to go.
Reminder that I'll be doing my Open Hour tomorrow morning at Port City at Alderney Landing. I'll be there there from 9:30-11:00 for anyone that wants to bend my ear for 10 minutes.
October 10, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Reminder that I'll be doing my Open Hour tomorrow morning at Port City at Alderney Landing. I'll be there there from 9:30-11:00 for anyone that wants to bend my ear for 10 minutes.
Council Update from this week's meeting: Dartmouth Cove infill bylaw amendments approved and potential changes to the deed transfer tax rate. Read about it here samaustin.ca/council-upda...
Council Update: Dartmouth Cove, Deed Transfer - Sam Austin
Agenda, October 7 Dartmouth CoveSeveral years worth of public debate and concern culminated in a public hearing on Tuesday. The stakes? Whether or not HRM should implement a bylaw restricting infill i...
samaustin.ca
October 10, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Council Update from this week's meeting: Dartmouth Cove infill bylaw amendments approved and potential changes to the deed transfer tax rate. Read about it here samaustin.ca/council-upda...
Today: Boys and Girls Club breakfast to start, and then I’m a guest lecturer to a class of Dal planning students this evening (preping for that for most of the day). Maybe get started on my Council blog with what’s left
October 8, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Today: Boys and Girls Club breakfast to start, and then I’m a guest lecturer to a class of Dal planning students this evening (preping for that for most of the day). Maybe get started on my Council blog with what’s left
Today: It's a Regional Council day. Major item for District 5 is Dartmouth Cove. Agenda here pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
Halifax Regional Council - October 07, 2025
pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Today: It's a Regional Council day. Major item for District 5 is Dartmouth Cove. Agenda here pub-halifax.escribemeetings.com/Meeting.aspx...
The framing of the Province's Planning Order is quite something. They rejected the Regional Plan because of watercourse setbacks and EVs, didn't understand the consequences, and now have to issue an order to fix the mess they created. It's HRM's fault though! Just wild.
novascotia.ca/just/regulat...
novascotia.ca/just/regulat...
novascotia.ca
October 3, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The framing of the Province's Planning Order is quite something. They rejected the Regional Plan because of watercourse setbacks and EVs, didn't understand the consequences, and now have to issue an order to fix the mess they created. It's HRM's fault though! Just wild.
novascotia.ca/just/regulat...
novascotia.ca/just/regulat...
Today: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities board meeting, and meeting with Housing and Homeless staff regarding upcoming revisions to HRM's Strategy. Taking a bit of time late this afternoon to take my youngest to see the Taylor Swift album release
October 3, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Today: Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities board meeting, and meeting with Housing and Homeless staff regarding upcoming revisions to HRM's Strategy. Taking a bit of time late this afternoon to take my youngest to see the Taylor Swift album release
Today: A busy one. Sportsplex board to start, e-newsletter, meeting with Canoe-Kayak and Councillor Mancini, Environment Standing Committee, and then Downtown Dartmouth Heritage District Open House.
October 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Today: A busy one. Sportsplex board to start, e-newsletter, meeting with Canoe-Kayak and Councillor Mancini, Environment Standing Committee, and then Downtown Dartmouth Heritage District Open House.
My October E-News. Some bike stats, water conservation, some transportation news (closed bus lane, cancelled roundabout), splash pad, cherry trees, Dartmouth Cove public hearing, and more. Read about it here samaustin.ca/e-news-octob...
E-News October 2025 - Sam Austin
News Bike Lane UsageBike lanes have been a hot topic over the last several months, first with the Mayor’s motion to pause building cycling infrastructure, then with the debate over Morris Street, and ...
samaustin.ca
October 2, 2025 at 12:18 PM
My October E-News. Some bike stats, water conservation, some transportation news (closed bus lane, cancelled roundabout), splash pad, cherry trees, Dartmouth Cove public hearing, and more. Read about it here samaustin.ca/e-news-octob...
Today: Tour of the MacPhee Centre with the Mayor and Councillor Mancini, coffee with a resident, newsletter this afternoon, and then community safety assessment in Harbourview (area around the splash pad) with residents and staff
September 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Today: Tour of the MacPhee Centre with the Mayor and Councillor Mancini, coffee with a resident, newsletter this afternoon, and then community safety assessment in Harbourview (area around the splash pad) with residents and staff
Today: Started with News 95.7 re Dartmouth Cove, meeting with parks regarding upcoming capital projects, Transportation Standing Committee, and wrapping up with Deputy Mayors Bike Ride. Busy day!
September 25, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Today: Started with News 95.7 re Dartmouth Cove, meeting with parks regarding upcoming capital projects, Transportation Standing Committee, and wrapping up with Deputy Mayors Bike Ride. Busy day!