Nova Scotia residents are no longer allowed to lodge complaints against their municipal elected officials, a decision criticized as “dangerously undemocratic” by an advocate. The province recently amended the municipal code of conduct in response to feedback from municipalities. One significant change restricts complaints to be filed only by a council member in the same municipality as the subject of the complaint.
Pam Mood, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities and mayor of the Town of Yarmouth, expressed the need for a clear definition of frivolous or vexatious complaints to ensure consistency among independent investigators handling municipal complaints. She emphasized the importance of using the code of conduct as intended.
Mood highlighted that while the restriction on public complaints may be temporary, it allows for a pause to evaluate the situation and potentially improve the process. She mentioned that frivolous complaints could stem from personal animosity towards a councillor or disagreement on voting patterns.
Several other changes in the code of conduct include the prohibition of council members submitting complaints on behalf of others and the ability for investigators to consolidate similar complaints into a single investigation.
The amendments come following complaints from residents about Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore. One resident, Peter Linfield, who previously filed a complaint, expressed disappointment over the restriction on new public complaints.
While some criticize the move as anti-democratic, Municipal Affairs Minister John Lohr defended the decision, citing a learning curve in the process and a commitment to ongoing improvement. The minister mentioned the possibility of reintroducing public complaints in the future and pledged to collaborate with the municipal federation to enhance the code of conduct.
Despite concerns raised by advocacy groups, a municipal affairs spokesperson assured that citizens can still hold council members accountable through the electoral process.