The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
The Honourable Joanne Thompson, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Fisheries
July 10, 2025
Re: Dartmouth Cove Waterfront Infill Project – PID: 00114132, File No. 2022-206446
Dear Ministers Freeland and Thompson,
I am writing to express serious concern regarding the proposed Dartmouth Cove Waterfront Infill Project (PID: 00114132, File No. 2022-206446), and to respectfully request that no federal approvals or authorizations be granted.
In response to sustained and thoughtful public opposition from stakeholders, public officials, and residents, the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is actively developing a by-law to better protect Dartmouth Cove from infill development. This effort is rooted in the clear will of residents and other stakeholders—who are deeply concerned about the environmental, cultural, and recreational impacts of this project, including significant and permanent effects on navigation and fish habitat.
The proposed infill also threatens to disrupt the work of the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE), located directly adjacent to the site. COVE is a globally recognized hub for ocean innovation, home to companies advancing marine science, ocean technology, and maritime defence. Many of its stakeholders rely on access to the harbour and its natural conditions for essential research, testing, and operations. The infill would directly compromise that access and undermine the integrity of this internationally significant work.
Furthermore, Indigenous stakeholders have expressed their clear opposition to this project. Their perspectives must be respected and meaningfully considered in any decision-making process.
I want to emphasize that these concerns are not limited to immediate neighbours—they are shared broadly across my riding and throughout HRM. Dartmouth is not a dumping ground for someone’s excess fill.
As local Councillor Sam Austin explained publicly in the media: “The community deserves better than to have it used as a dump site, and then the resulting rocky moonscape sits there for years and years.” Newly created land would not be zoned for housing or anything productive; as per his comments, it would simply be a moonscape—and our community deserves better.
Given the depth of public opposition, the municipal process underway, the risk to Canada’s ocean economy and research sector, and the positions expressed by Indigenous stakeholders, I respectfully urge your departments to refrain, in good faith, from issuing any approvals or authorizations related to this project.
That said, should federal engagement continue on this file, it must occur in good faith, in full partnership with HRM, and with meaningful consideration of the concerns raised by local residents, Indigenous stakeholders, and other affected parties. At a minimum, I respectfully urge your departments to refrain from issuing any approvals or authorizations related to this project until HRM has completed its by-law and brought it into force.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these serious concerns further with you.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Darren Fisher, P.C., M.P.
Member of Parliament for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
Articles of note:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/transport-canada-moving-to-rescind-approval-for-dartmouth-cove-infill-project-ministers-office/ “In an email to CTV Atlantic News late Wednesday afternoon, the minister of transport’s office confirmed the department has started the process of rescinding approval.”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/tranport-canada-dartmouth-cove-infill-update-1.7240238