11.8 per cent of Halifax workforce nearing retirement: census

By THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tue. Mar 4 - 1:55 PM

OTTAWA — Nearly 12 per cent of the workforce in the Halifax region is nearing retirement age, Statistics Canada reported Tuesday as it released new census data which shows a national trend of a declining rate of young people entering the workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.

Information from the 2006 census indicates 11.8 per cent of the workforce of the Halifax region was aged 55 to 64. Provincially, 13.2 per cent of the workforce was in the 55-64 age group and nationally the figure was 12.9.

Among that age group nearing retirement in the Halifax region, 22.6 per cent work in business, finance and administration occupations and 22.2 per cent work in sales and service occupations.

The median age of a worker in the Halifax region was 40.2 in 2006. In 2001, the last time the census was taken, the median age was 38.3. Nationally, the median age of a worker was 41.2, compared to 39.5 in 2001.

Statistics Canada defines median age as a middle value — the point where exactly one half of the working-age population is older than the median age and the other half is younger.

The census shows a continuing national trend of fewer young people entering the workforce to replace retiring baby boomers.

Across Canada, there were 1.9 entrants to the labour force aged 20-34 for every person over 55 on their way out. Five years ago, there were 2.7 entrants for every potential retiree and 25 years ago, the figure was 3.7 entrants.

The census numbers show that in 2006, there were 2.4 entrants to the labour force of Halifax region aged 20-34 for every person over 55 who was on their way out.

For several years, researchers have been warning about potential labour shortages across Canada based on the aging of baby boomers — those born between 1946 and 1964 — and lower fertility rates. Within the next three years, almost one-fifth of Canadian baby boomers will be at least 61 years of age.

Labour market analysts are predicting a widespread shortage of workers impacting a broad range of occupations.

A shortage of suitable workers can hurt a healthy economy because the labour market and economy are so tightly bound. When the ratio of workers arriving to the workplace dips below the number leaving it, it could create a drag on the economy and stagnate growth.

A recent report by the Conference Board of Canada put a price tag on job shortages: a projected shortage of 90,000 IT workers over the next five years will cost the economy an estimated $120,000 for each worker not replaced in each year. Other sectors of the workforce identified as particularly vulnerable to potential labour shortfalls include health care and skilled trades.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said the federal government must find ways to help Canada hold onto its skilled workers and draw talented immigrants to cover the gaps.

In the Halifax area, the median age of workers in health occupations was 42.4. For those working in trades and related occupations, the median age was 42.5.

The census information released Tuesday also gives insight into the education levels of people in the Halifax region.

A total of 34.1 per cent of the population in the Halifax region aged 25-64 have attained a university certificate, diploma or degree. A further 22.0 per cent have a college diploma; 11.4 per cent earned a trade certificate; 20.2 per cent have nothing higher than a secondary school education and 12.3 per cent didn’t earn a high school diploma.

Among those in the Halifax area who are in the 25-34 age group and have probably entered the workforce, 14.8 per cent studied business/management/public administration. The next most popular field of study was architecture/engineering (11 per cent), followed by social sciences/law (10 per cent).

The census also showed that 6.1 per cent of the total employed workforce of the Halifax region worked at home in 2006. A total of 8.9 per cent of working population in the Halifax region was self-employed.

Statistics Canada also uses the census to find out about unpaid work, such as housework, child care or elderly care. In 2006, women in the Halifax region did more unpaid work than their male counterparts — 53.7 per cent among women to 46.3 per cent for men.

The census is conducted every five years by Statistics Canada and is based on information filled out by Canadians on May 16, 2006. The data released Tuesday on work and education follows information released earlier on overall population growth, families, age and sex breakdowns of the population, immigration and a look at the country’s aboriginal communities.

 

Technorati Tags: StatsCan,Sencus Report,Halifax 2007

Bruce MacKinnons Cartoon

Province increases police presence by 75 officers; HRM getting 14

JUSTICE
THE DAILY NEWS STAFF

Nova Scotia will soon see 70 new police officers hit the streets, with Halifax Regional Municipality the highest beneficiary with 14 new cops.

The move is part of the provincial government’s previous commitment to add 250 new officers by 2010.

Aside from the 14 officers going to Halifax, four will head to Cape Breton Regional municipality. The rest will be distributed throughout other areas of the province. Part of the government’s promise was to add at least one new officer to every municipality in the province.

“If we are serious about cracking down on crime, we must put resources behind our words,” Justice Minister Cecil Clarke said yesterday. “I am optimistic these positions will make a significant impact in our crackdown on crime.”

The new officers will tackle a variety of issues, from drugs and thefts to child pornography. Two officers in particular will be dedicated to the issue of family violence, and will be a resource to other police agencies. One will be dedicated to First Nations communities.

The increased police presence stems from a recommendation of the Nunn Commission. Input was also received from a Minister’s Task Force on Safer Streets and Communities, which heard from 800 Nova Scotians.

citydesk@hfxnews.ca

26/01/08 

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Storm clouds gathering

The Sunday Edition of The Halifax Chronical Herald
Despite Flaherty’s optimism, economy will likely suffer hangover in ’08

Sun. Dec 30 - 6:46 AM

Entry level houses built earlier this year on Coldstream Run in West Portland Estates were an indication of the strength of the local economy. (Ted Pritchard / Staff)

AFTER 16 consecutive years of growth and improving prosperity, is the party finally ending for the Canadian economy?

Far from it, according to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty. Ever since his Oct. 30 fall economic update, Flaherty has been talking up the economy as if this was the best of times, with nary a discouraging word.

“Like the North Star, we are a bright light for others to follow,” Flaherty enthused in his fall economic update and in many speeches following.

The numbers do sound impressive. The second-longest expansion in Canadian history after the great 1958-1980 advance, unemployment at a 33-year low, wages rising at about double the inflation rate, runaway federal surpluses, a falling debt burden and low, stable inflation.

And to top it all, the Canadian dollar’s gravity-defying 29 per cent ascent against its American cousin. Already on a steady upward trajectory since 2002, the dollar took flight, shooting from just over 85 cents US at the start of the year to an all-time high above 110 cents US on Nov. 7.

Although the loonie has backed off of late, many economists believe it will hover around parity for some time and U.S. currency analyst Dennis Gartman is especially bullish, forecasting a return to the $1.10 US plateau before 2008 is over.

But even Flaherty will concede that dark clouds are gathering. While few economists are uttering the R-word, 2008 is expected be the closest Canada comes to dipping into recession — defined as two consecutive quarter of negative growth — since 2001 when growth barely peaked above the waterline.

“I am worried about the U.S. housing market and what it does to consumer confidence,” Flaherty told The Canadian Press.

“It’s not just subprime, it’s much bigger than that. We can expect reduced demand (in the U.S.), which is going to hurt exports, particularly the auto sector and forest products.”

And Flaherty added that while Canadian banks are well-capitalized, the fallout of the $30-billion asset-backed commercial paper crisis in this country will see more financial institutions take “hits,” although an agreement in principle to rescue the short-term debt reached in December should help mitigate the damage.

Still, Flaherty and Bank of Canada governor David Dodge are loath to discuss recession, as if uttering the word might bring it about. The closest the Bank of Canada gets to forecasting negative growth is in the final quarter of 2007, when it calls for a 1.8 advance in gross domestic product, followed by an anemic 2.1 per cent in the first three months of 2008.

But on Dec. 4, it cited increased downside risks in surprising the market by cutting interest rates one-quarter of a percentage point.

That was not seen as a panic move — a half-point slice would have. Yet it raised eyebrows among economists, coming in the face of third-quarter growth that was slightly higher than expected.

“We’re not at recession, but we’re definitely in the same room,” said Douglas Porter, the Bank of Montreal’s deputy chief economist.

“We have seen Canada avoid following the U.S. into a recession before, but we can’t completely go in the opposite direction. It will have an impact on our economy.”

The dark clouds are not only coming from the U.S.

A spending binge combined with no-questions-asked credit terms — particularly in the subprime mortgage market — has metastasized into a spreading cancer on world financial markets and depressed economic prospects everywhere.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank downgraded it’s forecast for global growth next year to 4.2 per cent, potentially bad news for the Canadian economy.

Global Insight now forecasts U.S. growth will shrink to zero in the fourth quarter of 2007 and 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2008, certainly in recession’s anteroom.

“We’re going to have the weakest year we’ve seen in five years,” said Global Insight Canada’s managing director, Dale Orr.

“But I think it’ll be better than the U.S. Still, it’ll be below our potential, so it’s not going to be a good year.”

How bad is a matter of perspective. Certainly not recession — yet — but lower global growth is expected to slide oil prices below $80 a barrel, as well as temper prices for most Canadian commodities. That means Alberta’s six per cent growth will likely be trimmed closer to three per cent.

Manufacturers, who shed 100,000 jobs this year, and the forestry industry — which has lost about 7,000 jobs — are headed for another lean year as they attempt to overcome both the continuing strength of the loonie and weaker U.S. demand for products.

TD Bank chief economist Don Drummond noted, however, that manufacturing production has not tailed off as dramatically as employment in the sector and the economies of Ontario and Quebec — Canada’s manufacturing heartland — have continued to grow thanks in large part to healthy financial and technology sectors.

“I think we’ll limp through it,” said Drummond.

“We’re seeing a greater decoupling of Canadian and U.S. economic events. The major risk in the U.S. is housing and if that spills over to consumption, it will spill over to Canada but we certainly don’t have the same risk. Our key risk is what the exchange rate will do to exports.”

If the past few months are any indication, will do it plenty.

Exports to the U.S. were down 2.3 per cent in October and are marginally down for the first 10 months of the year. And this is for a period when the U.S. economy was generally robust.

But Drummond also cautions against getting overly gloomy. While the tail end of 2007 and start of 2008 will bring some tough sledding, the economy is expected to start pulling up itself up by the bootstraps in the second half of next year and come in with a respectable two per cent or greater gain.

Gartman, who writes an investment newsletter from Virginia, says Canadians should realize they have a lot of advantages in the global marketplace.

“You are a country that has stuff the world needs. You have wheat, you have canola, you have oil, you have natural gas — you name it, you’ve got it. Canada has sanctity of contract, it has productive people, has great port facilities. Nothing has changed.”

The U.S. economic slump will impact Canada, he agreed, but not as much as it impacts the U.S., adding that he expects the loonie to bounce back against the greenback next year.

“I find it amusing that Canadians don’t like their own currency — you do call it the loonie, after all,” he joked.

“You’ve have a correction (from $1.10 US), now I think the major trend goes into effect and I would be surprised if we were not trading well above parity, easily over $1.10 US, by the end of 2008.”

’Like the North Star, we are a bright light for others to follow.’

JIM FLAHERTY finance minister, in fall economic update

Possibility of portrait gallery bid uncertain

From the Halifax Chronical Herald
Mayor says a local group interested in federal project
By MICHAEL LIGHTSTONE Staff Reporter
Sat. Dec 29 - 6:21 AM

Mayor Peter Kelly says a group that does not yet wish to be identified has approached him about making a bid for the National Portrait Gallery. But HRM’s cultural advisory committee has already ruled out trying for it. (Ted Pritchard / Staff)

There are mixed messages coming from Halifax city hall on the possibility of bidding for the National Portrait Gallery.

On the one hand, Mayor Peter Kelly has said a local group has met with him with an eye to getting involved in the federal art museum project.

On the other, the municipality’s cultural advisory committee has already voted not to enter the bidding process and won’t be approaching Halifax regional council about pushing ahead with a proposal.

Committee chairman Coun. Andrew Younger (East Dartmouth-The Lakes) said Friday he doesn’t know who Mr. Kelly has spoken to regarding metro’s potential interest in the national competition.

“If somebody — whether it’s the mayor or the (group) — wants to come to the . . . committee and outline a request for an endorsement, that’s perfectly fine,” Mr. Younger said.

Mr. Kelly said as far as he is concerned there’s no conflicting message from city hall because the cultural committee acts only in an advisory role, while Halifax regional council has the final say.

“If council is asked to participate in any capacity, then that will be a decision of council,” he told The Chronicle Herald.

The city’s cultural advisory committee is backing away from the bidding because members feel strongly that Calgary has a lock on the gallery contest.

Earlier this month, Calgary city council voted to spend up to $500,000 to help finance a bid for the national gallery. Ottawa wants the private sector to take the lead in the project, but a Public Works Canada staffer has said there’s nothing preventing municipal governments from joining the bidding process or supporting a private development.

Mr. Younger, who thinks it’d be great if Halifax could host something like the portrait gallery, noted bidders are facing a time crunch. Proposals must be submitted by Feb. 13.

“If you want to get to the cultural advisory committee and then you’ve got to get to (regional) council,” Mr. Younger said, “and then you have to hope that council doesn’t defer it, like council is prone to do,” it will be a challenging endeavour.

Mr. Kelly acknowledged there’s “a group of individuals” that wants to explore the portrait gallery project. He wouldn’t name them and said they don’t want to come forward until “all their ducks are in a row.”

Regional council meets next Jan. 8. The mayor said any request for help from the city, including spending public money, must be filed in writing.

Mr. Kelly said the local group “has a lot of their work done, and they’re just working on other points to fine-tune their proposal. They have indicated they believe it’s (a viable) opportunity for HRM.”

The federal government has issued a request for proposals that’s open to cities of a certain size, including Halifax Regional Municipality, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. Calgary already has a couple of candidate sites in the downtown district selected for consideration.

The Portrait Gallery of Canada is administered by Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa. It has amassed more than 20,000 art works and four million photographs since the 1880s. A plan to establish the gallery in the former U.S. Embassy, across the street from parliament, died following the last federal election.

According to a request for proposals, the gallery “is to reflect a high standard of achievement. The project is intended to become a must-see destination site for all Canadians and visitors from around the world. It must respond to the high expectation of the public when visiting a site such as a national gallery and must sustain the excitement of Canadians for generations to come.”

In a 2006 memo obtained by CanWest News Service, then heritage minister Bev Oda stated that, ideally, the gallery would need 17,500 square feet of exhibition space, but that it was possible a smaller facility might do. Mr. Kelly said a Halifax bid could include proposed new developments and / or existing space that’d be converted for exhibition use.

Mr. Younger said even though the municipality’s cultural advisory committee is not stepping forward to promote a bid for the gallery, it doesn’t mean a proposal from metro is a non-starter. “If there’s a private developer who wants to put a proposal forward and he’s not looking for any significant funding from HRM as part of this, then it’s probably worth looking at,” he said.

( mlightstone@herald.ca)

’They’re just working on other points to fine-tune their proposal. They have indicated they believe it’s (a viable) opportunity for HRM.’

Peter Kelly

Cities being shortchanged

Cities being shortchanged
From The Halifax Chronical Herald
By PAUL ZED
Sun. Dec 23 - 6:00 AM
Stephen Harper’s government claims to be investing record amounts in infrastructure across Canada; this is simply untrue. The Conservative government is doing nothing more than re-gifting former Liberal programs and presenting them as if they were new sources of funding for municipalities, while cutting in other areas.

Canada’s cities have asked the federal government for help to improve their infrastructures of roads, bridges, sewers and transit systems. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s response – in a particularly “Grinchy” tone – was clear and simple: Canada’s cities need to quit their “whining.”His remarks demonstrate this government has no interest in doing anything that is not strictly within federal jurisdiction, no matter how much good can be done.

The minister has repeatedly claimed that he has given more money for infrastructure than at any time in Canadian history. A record $33 billion, he claims. This is, to be polite, somewhat disingenuous. The real numbers speak for themselves.

Of the $33 billion, $18.2 billion was announced by the previous Liberal governments; $2.1 billion is going to border crossings; $2.3 billion is going to provincial governments; $1.3 billion to public-private partnerships; and $410 million to the Pacific gateway. This leaves $8.8 billion over seven years to be shared among the core national highway system, large scale projects including transit and wastewater management, and small scale municipal projects.

In 2005, the Liberal government renewed the municipal rural infrastructure fund, the Canada strategic infrastructure fund, the border infrastructure fund and the public transit capital trust. This commitment was worth $1.65 billion annually through 2014, for a total of $11.5 billion from 2007-2014. The 2007 Conservative budget only included $4 billion of the funds that were renewed for these same programs – a cut of $7.5 billion.

The funding model for Canadian cities is broken. Over 90 per cent of municipal revenue comes from property taxes. It is the last remaining major form of taxation in Canada that is not directly related to either a person’s ability to pay or the services they’re delivered. It is a funding model drawn up in the 19th century. While the funding model has not changed, the services that municipalities must provide have. Welfare, housing, recreation, infrastructure, snow removal, policing, fire and ambulance services are just some of the resources for which Canadian municipalities must pay. Yet municipalities are not allowed to tap into the same tax sources available to federal and provincial governments.

If Canada wants to remain a leading G8 nation, an economic power, a guardian of the world’s environment and a model of effective social structures, there are a few things that are not optional: modern rapid transit, safe bridges, proper waste-water facilities. In short, ignoring the $123-billion infrastructure deficit is not an option.

Is Mr. Flaherty treating this issue seriously when he tells cities to “stop their whining”? Is he showing that he understands the modern infrastructure needs of cities when he says that “the federal government is not in the business of filling potholes”? And does he understand the real need for infrastructure in Canada when he tells mayors to “get spending under control”? Not one mayor whom I have talked to takes this government’s infrastructure projects seriously. Nor should they.

Prime Minister Harper has abandoned Canadian cities and communities. He has stated, “The reality is that the federal government does not focus enough attention on its core responsibilities. It is spending too much time on issues better left to the provinces and the municipalities. Infrastructure is an excellent example.” He has also stated that he opposes a “new deal” for municipalities.

The Liberal party is very proud of the investments it made in infrastructure projects for over a decade. We are also proud that the New Deal for Cities is providing some level of long-term funding for municipalities. But we know that it is not enough. Leader Stéphane Dion has promised a 20-year plan for infrastructure funding, and to pass legislation to make the gas-tax transfer permanent. When we return to office, mayors across the country can be assured that the federal government will be back at the table to work with them and their provincial governments to address the infrastructure problem.

MP Paul Zed is the Liberal critic for cities, communities & infrastructure.

Outmigration stymies Atlantic governments

The Halifax Chronical Herald
Too many workers leaving
By JAMES KELLER The Canadian Press
Sun. Dec 16 - 4:46 AM
After more than eight years living in places like Toronto and Vancouver, Miriam Zitner decided it was time to come home.

Zitner, a 33-year-old public relations consultant, left Halifax in 1999 to find work after finishing school. It was supposed to be a temporary move, just a few years to get some experience in a busier city. But then, she says, life got in the way.

“I’ve been thinking about coming back since I left,” says Zitner, whose story echoes countless others of former Atlantic Canadians waiting to return home.

“The whole way through I was thinking, ‘Well, Toronto’s not forever, it’s just for now,’ and it got to the point where it was eight years later and you go, ‘Oh God, I’m still here.’”

She spent four months looking for a comparable job in Halifax, but had no luck. Instead, she crafted a unique arrangement with her employer earlier this year to continue working for the same Toronto-based office remotely from Halifax.

That setup is about to end.

“It’s tricky,” she says hesitantly, adding that she can always freelance from home for companies in Toronto, but she’d much rather work for a Halifax firm.

“I don’t know, because the business community seems to be quite small here, and what I do is particular. There’s a ton of opportunity in cities that have head offices and companies that have a national focus.” Zitner is exactly the sort of ex-pat Atlantic Canadian that governments in the region are targeting as they try to boost their populations and curb potentially disastrous labour shortages.

But stories like Zitner’s, along with recently released census data, suggest Atlantic provinces are having trouble enticing former residents to return or persuading current residents to stay.

More than 37,500 Atlantic Canadians moved to another province or territory between 2005 and 2006, while about 27,000 people moved into the region from other parts of Canada. That’s a net loss of more than 10,000, and it represents a trend Statistics Canada predicts will continue.

Births and immigration seem to have picked up the slack, with the region’s overall population virtually unchanged. However, it’s clear the provinces, which are already facing a potential crisis in their aging workforces, are failing to draw enough people into the region.

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick appear to be taking the most aggressive approaches, each mounting recruiting drives across Canada and setting up job-matching programs to connect workers with employers.

In Nova Scotia, much of the past year has been spent branding the province to the rest of the country, casting it as a place with a vibrant economy that also offers a more relaxed lifestyle and lower cost of living.

And now the province is trying to couple that image with concrete jobs.

“They preached the benefits of living in Nova Scotia, but they did get a bit of feedback saying, ‘OK, show us the jobs and we’ll come,’” says Holly Dunn of the Opportunities Nova Scotia program, which recently held several recruitment events in Central and Western Canada.

“Opportunities Nova Scotia was stage two of that, to say, ‘We have jobs, hundreds of jobs, and there are going to be tens of thousands of jobs in the next five to 10 years.’”

New Brunswick’s strategy is much the same. In November, Greg Byrne, the cabinet minister who oversees the province’s new population growth secretariat, took more than a dozen information technology companies to Ottawa and Montreal ready to hand out 150 jobs.

Byrne says the province needs to find ways to bring in more workers as it moves to become self-sufficient by 2026, a goal that includes boosting the province’s population by 100,000.

The province is also enlisting New Brunswickers living away as so-called “ambassadors,” asking them to help sell New Brunswick even if they don’t plan on returning.

P.E.I. plans to release several strategies in the spring focusing on population growth and revamping the economy.

Among the focuses will be recruiting workers for the Island’s growing bioscience industry, creating incentives to encourage companies to move management or head offices to the province, and selling the quality-of-life benefits of doing business in P.E.I.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s approach is similar.

The province is also developing its own strategies, which will include a job-posting website and reaching out directly to former Newfoundlanders. The province is convinced that if it creates well-paying jobs, Newfoundlanders living in places like Alberta will jump at the chance to return.

It’s difficult to measure the success of such efforts. The next time the provinces could have a real idea of whether they’ve been able to stop the outflow of people and workers could be the 2011 census.

And while governments are predicting real progress, David Chaundy of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council says they are facing an uphill battle.

“I think the key issue is there’s people here who are highly skilled who are leaving, and if you want to reduce outmigration you really need to create a sustained creation of high-paying, attractive jobs,” he says.

Chaundy says there are a number of factors working against Atlantic Canada.

For example, he says the region doesn’t have large concentrated cities to support a diverse labour market.

As well, newly graduated skilled workers with little experience may have trouble finding jobs in a smaller market while at the same time Atlantic Canada’s aging population will mean a loss of experienced employees.

However, the head of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, a right-leaning think-tank based in Halifax, says outmigration isn’t necessarily the crisis many are painting it as.

Charles Cirtwill says Atlantic Canadians living outside the province may be more willing to do business with people and companies they know from back home, and that could prove a crucial boost the region’s economy.

Still, Cirtwill acknowledges the provinces need to create better-paying jobs to stop the population from shrinking

City slow to act on encouraging local bids

From personal experience, one of the key issues when dealing with the city of Halifax is the length of time it takes to get a decision or have a change implemented. The following article is an example of what has to be considered a very apathetic attitude by the administration & elected representatives.

Last updated at 6:33 AM on 13/12/07
The Daily News
City slow to act on encouraging local bids

STÉPHANE MASSINON

A major opportunity to host a world-class art gallery may be heading elsewhere. And so far, it looks like nobody here is raising much of a fuss about it.

While Calgary and Vancouver are aggressively seeking to be the host city of a new national portrait gallery, Halifax is still confused, pointing to others or saying we’re not a likely choice anyway.

In November, Ottawa announced that it would consider proposals for a national portrait gallery from nine Canadian cities, including Halifax. It wants developers to respond to a request for proposals and have the support of their community.

Calgary’s council is working with major companies and not-for-profit organizations. On Monday, it put forward $500,000 for the bid. The mayor of Vancouver has gone to Ottawa to get more information on the gallery.

In Halifax, senior staff are just now getting around to talk about it later this week, after wondering whether it should go to a committee or council.

Mayor Peter Kelly was asked what he’s done.

“We’ve been working with staff to determine what direction may be possible,” Kelly said.

He has spoken to one unnamed developer, whose level of interest was described by Kelly as: “They didn’t say no.”

A report will go to council in January.

Dartmouth-The Lakes Coun. Andrew Younger, chairman of the city’s cultural advisory committee, said he’s heard rumors Ottawa wants Calgary to win.

“I have mentioned it to a few (people), and there doesn’t seem to be a huge interest,” he said.

“I think in part that lack of interest comes from everyone feeling the site has been selected already. Note Ottawa isn’t even strongly pushing a bid. Nor the Quebec locations. This speaks volumes.”

The committee would support an application from a local developer, but the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia or the province should be making the approach, he said.

“Since it must come from a private developer, there is no direct municipal role available,” Younger said.

An Art Gallery of Nova Scotia spokesman said he hasn’t heard much.

“Nothing’s really happened on our front. To be honest, I haven’t even heard anything more about it since the big announcement,” Jeff Gray said.

The Tourism and Culture Department said the AGNS is dealing with the matter.

“It’s not something that we’re actively exploring, or anything like that. There’s just been talk here and there,” spokeswoman Vicki Fraser said.

Mayoral candidate Sheila Fougere said she recalled hearing “something about that.”

After looking into it, she said the project would be “absolutely spectacular.”

Fougere said organizers have made the project public by asking for proposals from developers, not government.

“Could we step up as a community and say, ‘Hello developers, here’s what we have to offer’? We certainly could.

“At this point, we haven’t asked any of the questions surrounding this, which, perhaps, we should ask,” Fougere said.

The city would have to see what money it might contribute, she said.

“Perhaps our development community is a little on the gun-shy (side), given the criticism that HRM, corporately, has had from the development community,” Fougere said.

Council does not meet again until Jan. 8, and the deadline for applying is Feb. 13, she said.

“It’s not too late, so it’s certainly worth asking the question.”

smassinon@hfxnews.ca

“Part history museum, part gallery, the Portrait Gallery’s active program of travelling exhibitions, educational initiatives and community partnerships brings a unique collection of more than four million paintings, prints sculptures, photographs, films and caricatures to all Canadians.”
-Portrait Gallery of Canada’s website

Daily News Readers Comments:

Gregory from NS writes: Wow, they’ll chase down fading rock and pop stars with gusto to play in the muddied Commons , but something that actually introduces real and lasting cultural value and a little bit of infrastructure? Nah…At least the usual naysayers already have their job done for them.taxpayer from ns writes: Once again the ineptitude shows up, perhaps they don’t even know what a national gallery is, the time spent on garbage issues is coming to a head, I’d suggest they get the resumes ready, hopefully most will be job seeking next year..Mired at the bottom again. It’s not a super major issue but it may at least add to the draw ,lord knows we need a positive issue. tom tom from hfx, ns writes: It was a hopeless cause anyways,I can’t remember the last time I saw somebody walking downtown Halifax with an easle in hand wearing a Stetson. We are not an artsy fartsy tobacco chewing town.Our idea of art is those ugly cement shapes on the commons that are now half buried because of the skateboard park,which draws droves of criminal youth out at night.I love Halifax,we are so behind the times we won’t even allow a building over 7 stories tall,giddy up and go out West boys,the call centers are full.

John from NS writes: When was the last time Kelly or a councillor or Fred in the Art Gallary of Nova Scotia and why ? Ditto for Neptune and ditto for Symphony Nova Scotia and ditto the Jazz Festival ? And did they spend their own money ? The city thinks Neptune is so important to a vibrant modern city that they collect property taxes and then give it back for a net contribution of ZERO. But they fall all over themselves for some aging rock group and ignore the eclectic music talent that performs and lives here. They think a world class city is a hockey team and rock concerts. God help us.

Laura L from NS writes: This would be a great fit for some of the great old buildings still surving in the downtown areas. Too bad… Fed Up Again from Dartmouth, NS writes: The time has come and in fact is long overdue for a total replacement of the city administration. As citizens we should impeach the council including the Mayor. The same action should be taken as was taken with the school board (fire all of them). This gallery opportunity is exactly what Halifax should pursue. We must turf our we won’t win anyway , wrong direction, slow-out-of-the-gate, let’s do a study because I can’t think for myself, negative, cat bylaw crowd.

GM from NS writes: A National Gallery belongs in only one location - the nation’s capital.

Phil C from NS writes: Once again this is proof they there are no visionaries leading this city. This is an opportunity to build some much needed culture in this city. Granted this may not be a Municipal issue, but should we not be looking for private investors to encourage this bid. Another opportunity is being let slip out of our grasp because business, private and government can not seem to get their acts in gear. COME ON…We need variety to build culture. So what if Ottawa has made up their mind, build momentum so that we don’t get left behind. Lets stop complaining about things, and get out and start doing things.

John from NS writes: You would have a hard time finding a developer in this city willing to spend any money on making a proposal for the National Gallery coming to Halifax. They just do not think that way. Its the vision thing ! They think vision is spelt VI$$ION. Do you ever hear any of them talking about art in public spaces, of course not they think art is an investment. There are only a few in the business community who show any leadership on arts or beauty. We need someone to step forward and speak up about the importance of paintings, drama,dance, music, writing and all the arts that move us and excite us.