"Petition raised by Canadian Taxpayers Federation to abort Halifax bike lane undertaking"
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) is urging Halifax Regional Council to abandon its bike lane project, citing concerns over escalating costs, slow progress, and increased financial burdens on taxpayers.
Originally agreed upon in 2017, the council committed to a 53-kilometre bike lane network to be completed by 2022 at a cost of $25 million. However, seven years later, only about 60% of the project has been completed, and the cost has ballooned to $93 million—almost four times the original budget.
CTF Atlantic director Devin Drover criticized the project as a "bottomless money pit" and a "bike lane boondoggle," emphasizing that taxpayers are facing increased property taxes (an average increase of $302 per homeowner since two years ago) while receiving delayed results and unmet promises. Drover argued that with many residents struggling to afford basic necessities, the city cannot afford to waste further funds on what the CTF describes as a "failed vanity project."
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore attempted to put the project on hold last month due to traffic congestion concerns, but the council voted against this motion. The CTF insists the council should better represent taxpayers' interests and halt the project altogether.
Councillor Laura White, who is in favour of bike lanes, acknowledges work still needs to be done on the project. However, she suggests that completing the network would give people options to use it. Meanwhile, David Trueman, Halifax Cycling Coalition co-chair, emphasized the importance of the bike network for the safety of people on the streets and as a viable transportation option.
The CTF is a non-profit organization that advocates for taxpayers, and it has launched a petition calling on the municipality to cancel the bike lane expansion project. The petition highlights the main concerns raised by the CTF, including significant cost overruns, delayed construction progress, increased financial burden on taxpayers, and a lack of prioritization for citizens’ needs.
The Halifax Cycling Coalition is defending the goal of keeping bikers safe, but the CTF claims the bike lane project is "over budget" and "behind schedule." Devin Drover, the Atlantic director of the CTF, stated that the bike lane project is a "failed vanity project" and a "bottomless money pit."
As the debate continues, taxpayers in Halifax are left questioning whether the city can afford to continue with the bike lane project, given the rising costs and delays, or whether it is time to reconsider the project's priorities. The CTF's petition is gaining support, and it remains to be seen whether the Halifax Regional Council will respond to the calls for the project's cancellation.
- The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has launched a petition, focusing on the bike lane expansion project in Halifax, questioning its escalating costs, slow progress, and impact on taxpayers.
- The CTF criticizes the bike lane project as a "bottomless money pit" and a "bike lane boondoggle," asserting that it is a failed vanity project which the city cannot afford with many residents struggling to meet their basic needs.
- In a video interview, Devin Drover, the Atlantic director of the CTF, stated that the bike lane project is over budget, behind schedule, and an increased financial burden on taxpayers.
- Meanwhile, the news of delayed construction progress, increased property taxes, and calls for the project's cancellation have made headlines in the general-news and finance industries, sparking discussions around transportation and politics within the Halifax community.