September 8th, 2025
The public has spoken clearly: Dartmouth Cove must be protected from unnecessary infill.
I’ve heard from constituents and stakeholders across Dartmouth—Cole Harbour and beyond, and HRM Council and staff have heard the same. Just as the Northwest Arm was protected, Dartmouth Cove deserves the same protection, without further delay. The precedent set with the Northwest Arm makes it clear: a municipal by-law is the right tool to move forward and ensure Dartmouth Cove is safeguarded from unnecessary infill.
The staff report on this issue was expected some time ago, and recommending further delays only undermines the public good and prolongs uncertainty.
As multiple federal Ministers have already made clear, the federal government stands ready to support HRM and work collaboratively to ensure this by-law moves forward and Dartmouth Cove is protected.
I fully support Councillor Austin’s efforts to see a municipal by-law passed expediently to protect Dartmouth Cove from unnecessary infill.
There’s a proverb that says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.”
The same holds true here—it’s time to act, and it’s time to get this done.
—The Honourable Darren Fisher, P.C.
Member of Parliament for Dartmouth—Cole Harbour
You can find all of MP Fisher’s posts related to saving and protecting Dartmouth Cove from unnecessary infill here: https://darrenfisher.ca/tag/dartmouth-cove/