Trudeau, Savage discuss the Halifax housing crisis, climate change

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau swapped his T-shirt and jeans for a suit and tie on Monday to discuss local issues with Halifax Mayor Mike Savage.

The Prime Minister arrived in Nova Scotia on Sunday night to take part in the opening ceremony of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) for nearly 5,000 athletes in downtown Halifax.

However, Trudeau did not fly back to Ottawa after the ceremony and joined many of the NAIG’s athletes, volunteers and supporters at Lake Banook in Dartmouth on Monday morning.

While there, Trudeau was greeted by people who stopped to shake his hand or take a selfie before he and his son, Hadrian, took to the water for a paddle on a war canoe with native dignitaries.

Once back on land, Trudeau said he was inspired by how many people were out there in canoes and kayaks, not only competing against each other, “but growing themselves.”

“Each time we are here together, learning from each other, challenging each other, we are growing. We are creating a better world,” Trudeau said.

“These young Indigenous people carrying the future for all of us in the decades to come is so important, inspiring and comforting as well. The future is in very good hands.”

Trudeau’s visit wasn’t all smiles and selfies, though.

He got a hard dose of reality when he visited Halifax City Hall, where several tents of homeless people lined the fences of Grand Parade.

After shaking Trudeau’s hand, Savage spoke about the housing crisis that has recently arrived at City Hall’s doorstep.

“Tents outside City Hall for people who are homeless and have no place to live… I think all levels of government have to work really hard for that,” Savage said.

Savage said the federal government has introduced a number of programs, such as the rapid housing initiative, that have helped the housing situation in Halifax Regional Municipality, but that the municipality needs more help.

Trudeau spoke highly of Savage, saying he appreciated that the mayor of Halifax has been “a true ally of this administration.”

“But mostly you’ve been a real driver to respond to the real pressures people are feeling in cities across the country,” Trudeau said.

“You push hard on the things that matter because the things that matter matter to both of us. That always results in good conversations and constructive discussions.”

After speaking with Trudeau, Savage stopped outside City Hall to provide some insight into what was being discussed as the cameras were put away.

“One of the overarching issues for us now is a new fiscal framework for cities, while other governments in Canada, especially provincial ones, are floating with money they haven’t had before,” said Savage.

Savage, who chairs the Big City Mayors’ Caucus, said municipalities have 60 percent of the infrastructure but receive less than 10 percent of the tax revenue, which Savage said is a problem Trudeau is well aware of.

Other national issues such as the housing crisis, climate crisis and the need for transit infrastructure were among the topics of discussion, but Savage declined to disclose what local issues were being discussed.