Councillors express enthusiasm for $100K community mediation pilot

Halifax regional councillors liked what they saw Tuesday in a proposed $100,000 Community Mediation Pilot, a program for residents to resolve disputes outside the legal system.

The initiative, proposed in partnership with the United Way of Halifax, would provide mediation services for conflicts such as property disputes, landlord-tenant issues and neighbourhood complaints.  

Despite uncertainty expressed by some councillors about the program’s scope and budget, council voted in favour of moving it forward.  

What is community mediation? 

Community mediation resolves disputes without legal action through a neutral third party that facilitates dialogue. Unlike court proceedings, mediations guide discussions but don’t impose solutions.  

By addressing conflicts early, it aims to reduce strain on municipal services and prevents disputes from escalating. The program includes conflict coaching, which teaches de-escalation strategies and resolution skills when mediation doesn’t succeed.  

Councillor Sam Austin (District 3, Dartmouth Centre) said even minor disputes can cost the municipality thousands of dollars in staff time and resources. 

He pointed to a bird-feeding dispute in his district that led to repeated 311 calls, bylaw complaints and police involvement, with no real resolution. 

“There’s tens of thousands of dollars of staff time that have been spent of this bird-feeding dispute, and nobody is any happier, and we are not better off, and they are not better off,” he said. “It’s a total waste.” 

For Austin, the program represents a low-cost solution to avoid these unnecessary expenses.  

“For $100K to have a potential better way to do this… this is a bargain,” said Austin.  

Uncertainty over funding and scope 

While some councillors acknowledged the potential benefits of the program, others expressed concerns about its scope and the lack of clarity. 

Councillor Patty Cuttell (District 11, Spryfield-Sambro Loop) asked whether similar programs in other municipalities received additional funding from the provincial or federal government, rather than being funded solely by the municipality. 

“The price tag is $100K… but I don’t think it accounts for our staff time,” said Cuttell.  

Cuttell and Billy Gillis (District 15, Beaver Bank-Lower Sackville) were the only two councillors who opposed the motion. 

Cuttell also worried about escalating costs if the program’s scope expanded beyond its initial mandate.  

Councillor Trish Purdy (District 4, Cole Harbour–Preston) asked whether the funds would go toward a coordinator or be primarily for volunteer training.

Bill Moore, commissioner of public safety, said the next steps would be to determine the municipality’s role in funding the service and whether other sources of funding could be explored.

Despite the uncertainty, councillors were firmly in support of the initiative. 

Next steps  

While council voted to move the pilot forward, most councillors wanted more information before committing to full funding in the 2025-26 operating budget.  

The program is now on the Budget Adjustment List and will be reviewed further by the municipality’s budget committee before council makes a final decision. 

If funded, the pilot would launch as a one-year initiative, with the potential for annual renewals based on its success. 

“We can try send as many police officers and bylaw or our own trips. We’re not going to resolve it,” said Deputy Mayor Tony Mancini. “So that’s the rationale behind this motion.”