Tim Bousquet

2012 grade: D 2011 grade: D 2010 grade: D 2009 grade: B- 2008 grade: C- 2007 grade: B- Just three days after announcing he was “considering”� a run for mayor, the Chronicle-Herald outed anti-transit union comments on its site as belonging to an account created by Stephen Adams. The councillor rather disingenuously claimed that he […]

2012 grade: B- 2011 grade: B+ 2010 grade: B 2009 grade: C+ 2008 grade: C+ This year Jackie Barkhouse came into her own. Four years’ experience has crystalized into a deep understanding of the way the bureaucracy frustrates sensible action and how secret meetings are used to facilitate undemocratic agendas, and she found the courage […]

2012 grade: C 2011 grade: B- 2010 grade: D 2009 grade: C 2008 grade: D 2007 grade: D Brad Johns faced health issues this year and was granted an extended leave of absence by the rest of council. He missed several important votes, including the motion to censure Kelly, the most crucial vote on the […]

2012 Grade: F 2011 grade: F 2010 grade: D 2009 grade: F 2008 grade: F 2007 grade: F Streatch went through cancer treatment over the last few months. He handled it gracefully, and seems to have beaten it. We wish him well. But we don’t grade politicians based on the diseases they suffer. We grade […]

2012 grade: C 2011 grade: C 2010 grade: C+ 2009 grade: C- 2008 grade: D 2007 grade: C+ Jim Smith doesn’t often stand out as exceptional, but he was one of only three councillors to rise to the occasion and vote to censure Peter Kelly and suspend him for a week. Good for Smith. Otherwise, […]

2012 grade: C 2011 grade: D 2010 grade: C- 2009 grade: B- 2008 grade: B+ 2007 grade: B+ In last year’s report card, we criticized Bob Harvey for “just calling it in.”� This year, we’re happy to report, Harvey has been more committed to the job. He was particularly good when it came to the […]

The municipal elections happening across Nova Scotia on October 20 will serve as a reset for Halifax city politics. This is not always the case with an election, because no matter how great the theoretical power of voters to throw the bums out, there tends to be an intertia to city politics that makes it […]

2012 grade: EXPELLED 2011 grade: F 2010 grade: C 2009 grade: C- 2008 grade: D 2007 grade: D Mayor Peter Kelly is a disgrace to the city of Halifax and everyone who lives here. He has repeatedly dishonoured council and has destroyed the reputation of city government. Kelly’s sins are multiple. Kelly worked with a […]

2012 grade: C- 2011 grade: C- 2010 grade: D 2009 grade: D In 1996, the old Sackville landfill was closed due to contaminated aquifers and multiple lawsuits, and a new landfill was proposed for Otter Lake, in Reg Rankin’s district. Rankin suddenly found himself dealing with complex garbage issues, and played a leading role in […]

The past year has been the most eventful 12 months for Halifax councillors since The Coast started handing out annual grades in 2007. This year, council dealt with many highly contentious issues—and screwed up each and every one of them. The 2011 report card was still on the stands in May, when council agreed to […]