As I’m sureyou are aware, after much debate, members of regional council have recommended we keep our numbers at 23 councillors, plus the mayor.Even so, some significant change is about to occur.
HRM’s population is growing and is expected to hit 410,000 by the 2012 election; that’s 40,000 more than at the 2008 election. This has led to such imbalances in our 23 electoral districts that some councillors now represent 21,000 residents while others answer to about 15,000.
By law, district densities must be within 10 per cent, plus or minus, across the board so obviously, our entire electoral map must be rebalanced.
HRM staff has begun this work and will have recommendations for the Boundary Review Committee to take to a series of public meetings this fall.
Ultimately, of course, the final decisions – on the boundaries as well as the actual size of council - rest with the province through its agent, the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. We will submit our recommendations by December and the board will decide, sometime in the new year.
(In case you were wondering about councillors voting to retain or abolish their own positions, the fact is, we have no choice. Under terms of the Municipal Government Act and the HRM Charter, we’re legally obligedto vote, just as we’re legally required to review our electoral boundaries and size of council every eight years and then forward our recommendations to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.)
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I was saddened,as I’m sure you were, to read recently thatmore than 40,000 Nova Scotians, including many children, now need help from food banks to survive. That’s a 13-per-cent increase just in the last 12 months and food banks everywhere are straining to meet the demand.
So what can the average person do to help? Well, I took part in an initiative the other day that offers some hope.
The Campbell Company of Canada has a campaign called “Help Hunger Disappear.” All you do is visit www.facebook.com/CampbellCanada and offer to help in some way. You could pledge a food donation at your local grocery store; volunteer at your local food bank; or even donate the contents of your pantry to your local food bank.
For every pledge, Campbell donates a can of soup to Food Banks Canada.
Please consider this my personal invitation (call it a gentle challenge, if you like) to join me in restocking the shelves of our food banks through initiatives like this one.
No-one should go to bed hungry, certainly not a child.
(Incidentally, the vegetable garden which those kiddies fromSt. Joseph’s Children Centreand I planted at City Hall has just delivered its second crop to the Parker Street Food Bank. The other day, we harvested five boxes of kale, tomatoes, dill, parsley, basil and several different kinds of lettuce. We still have tons of spuds, carrots, beans, corn and squash in the ground and doing nicely so I’d say a third crop is a distinct possibility! C’mon children, keep weeding!)
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And finally,I’d like to share a personal little triumph with you.
I was one of the hundreds of people who took part in the recent 104thDartmouth Natal Day Road races. My event was the 10-km run and my goal was to beat 60 minutes.
And I did! I crossed the line in 58.02!
Not bad, considering my time for the only other 10-km run I’ve ever done, at this year’s Scotiabank Blue Nose Marathon, was 1 hour and 10 minutes.
My congratulations to everyone involved. I have nothing but admiration and awe for the dedication of those of you who run, week-in, week-out.
Reach me at kellyp@halifax.ca or on my personal website www.peterkelly.ca or by phoning 490-4010. You’re also most welcome to join me on my Facebook or Twitter pages. Or talk to me on my blog at http://mayorpeterkelly.wordpress.com/.
