Candidates vying to be Halifax's next mayor combat apathy and lack of awareness

Candidates running for mayor in Halifax are grappling with public apathy and limited engagement in municipal politics, according to experts and candidates.

“I think Haligonians, and likely many Canadians, are disengaging from local politics,” said Alex Marland, a political scientist at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S.

“The irony is that municipal politics is becoming more relevant to people’s lives as cities grow, tax revenues increase, and municipalities are asked to take on greater responsibilities,” Marland added.

A survey conducted by MQO Research between Sept. 24 and Oct. 2 found that nearly half of eligible Halifax voters couldn’t name a single candidate in the upcoming mayoral election. Of the 383 respondents, 46% either didn’t know or incorrectly named individuals not in the race, such as the outgoing mayor or the provincial premier.

'Fighting uphill'

Mayoral candidate Waye Mason, a municipal councillor, said public awareness about the election seems low based on conversations he’s had while canvassing.

“You’re fighting uphill. It’s just as much about informing people that an election is happening as it is about convincing them to vote for you,” Mason explained. He noted that awareness has been improving recently but believes candidates are still contending with widespread apathy and frustration lingering from the pandemic.

Former Liberal MP Andy Fillmore, also running for mayor, echoed Mason’s concerns, saying voter interest appears muted. He speculated that this could be linked to fatigue over ongoing speculation about potential federal and provincial elections.

“With 16 candidates running for mayor and multiple contested council seats, it can be tough for voters to follow who is advocating for which policies,” Fillmore said. He added that some voters have told him they’ve grown disillusioned with municipal politics due to frustrating experiences when raising concerns with the council.

Impact of shrinking local journalism

Marland attributed the public’s lack of knowledge about the election to a decline in local journalism. “In the past, people received newspapers and could easily follow local events just by flipping through the pages,” he said. With fewer local news outlets, Marland noted that attention has shifted to international events, such as the ongoing U.S. elections.

Mason observed that media coverage of Halifax’s municipal politics has decreased significantly in recent years. “We send out press releases and participate in debates, but the media turnout is minimal,” he said. Comparing the current situation to 12 years ago, he added, “Back then, reporters from every outlet were present. Now, it’s rare to see major media coverage.”

Without consistent media attention, candidates have turned to social media to engage voters, but Marland noted that “most people probably aren’t paying attention to that either.”

Electing a new mayor after 12 years

Lori Turnbull, a political scientist at Dalhousie University, explained that municipal elections generally receive less attention due to limited media coverage and the absence of political parties, which play a key role in promoting candidates at the provincial and federal levels.

What makes this election different, Turnbull said, is that Halifax will elect a new mayor for the first time in over a decade. Incumbent Mayor Mike Savage announced in February that he would not seek re-election and was recently appointed Nova Scotia’s lieutenant-governor.

“It’s been 12 years since there was any real contest for the mayor’s office, so people aren’t used to thinking of anyone other than Mike Savage in that role,” Turnbull said.

The latest poll by Narrative Research, conducted Oct. 1-3 for the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, shows that Fillmore, Mason, and councillor Pam Lovelace are the leading candidates. Of the 472 respondents, 24% supported Fillmore, 19% backed Mason, and 12% favored Lovelace, while 32% remained undecided. Since the poll was conducted through an online panel, no margin of error was applied.

Younger voters disconnected

Peter Roth, a 29-year-old Halifax resident, sought out candidates' platforms online but believes many young people are tuning out the election.

“There’s a small group that’s engaged, but I don’t think anyone is particularly excited about voting,” Roth said. “I feel like people my age or younger just don’t care.”

Roth argued that this disengagement is troubling, as younger residents are among those most affected by the lack of affordable housing and rising living costs. “Young Haligonians are probably the most dissatisfied with the city, yet they seem the least interested in politics,” they observed.