Early this summer, Halifax had given and missed its own deadline for removing shelters from the old Halifax Memorial Library grounds. The next steps were unclear, but tensions on all sides were rising and it was clear the city was gearing up to do something. In early July, councillor Shawn Cleary told The Coast that […]
Shawn Cleary
Council split on budget approval
It’s a bit of a bad news story if you ask Tim Outhit. Council approved HRM’s billion-dollar 2018-19 budget on Tuesday after some three hours of debate, with Outhit and fellow councillor Shawn Cleary being the only two votes against. The financial plan increases the average tax bill in Halifax by 1.975 percent—about $37 per single-family […]
City Council Report Card 2018
There’s a renaissance of buffoonery at City Hall. Whatever goodwill towards fellow councillors existed two years ago, when this self-righteous clique was elected, seems to deteriorate daily. There are spiteful remarks and passive aggressive attacks, on social media and in front of TV cameras. Some turn the other cheek. More than a few dig in […]
Cleary downplays Stroink conflict on Willow Tree
Ask Shawn Cleary about his friendship with Joachim Stroink and he’ll tell you something this town already knows. “In Halifax, it’s one-and-a-half degrees of separation,” he says. “Everybody knows everybody.” The councillor’s platonic relationship with Armco’s latest hired gun doesn’t raise any ethical or legal conflicts, he says, even as the development firm tries one […]
Cleary’s salary freeze plan gets cold shoulder
Shawn Cleary’s plans to freeze council salaries will have to wait a few more weeks. The Halifax West Armdale councillor proposed holding remuneration for the next eight months in a motion at Tuesday’s meeting of Regional Council. Cleary’s motion would have restricted any further increases to council’s pay until either November 1, or the arrival […]

