Economy
New Housing Regulations in HRM: Removing Barriers and Expanding Opportunities
Tim Houston’s government is taking decisive action to address the pressing need for housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). On August 21, 2024, new regulations were introduced to eliminate barriers and create more opportunities for housing development in HRM, aiming to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.
Getting Homes Built in the HRM
The new regulations under the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter mandate that increasing the housing supply must be the central focus in all land-use planning, regulations, and development decisions within HRM. John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, emphasized the importance of this move: “Nova Scotians need more housing, and that need is especially great in HRM. These regulations will ensure that increasing supply is a key focus in the municipal planning process and the prime consideration in development decisions.”
Key Changes to Housing Regulations
The regulations introduce several significant changes designed to facilitate housing development:
- Residential Uses in Most Zones: Residential developments will now be permitted in most zones, where appropriate, to maximize housing opportunities across HRM.
- Removal of On-Site Parking Requirements: For developments in the urban service area, on-site parking requirements will no longer be mandatory, making it easier to develop new housing projects.
- Height Restrictions and Density: Height restrictions will be adjusted to ensure they do not negatively impact density, particularly for mass timber residential developments.
- Flexibility for Residential Buildings: New rules remove unit-mix requirements and reduce the percentage of ground-floor commercial space required for residential buildings started before April 1, 2027.
- Permitting Manufactured and Temporary Housing: The regulations allow for manufactured housing, including modified shipping containers, in all residential zones, and permit temporary housing in all zones for employees working on or near a job site.
- Suburban Planning Strategy: HRM must adopt a secondary municipal planning strategy for suburban areas by January 31, 2025, to better accommodate growth in these regions.
Trusted Partner Program for Developers
A notable addition is the introduction of Canada’s first trusted partner program for qualified developers. This program will streamline and expedite services for developers with a proven track record of quality developments. The municipality will be required to adopt a bylaw supporting this program, with the deadline to be determined by the Minister.
Simplifying Planning Appeals
To further expedite housing development, changes in building color, cladding material, and the arrangement of windows and doors will now be considered non-substantive in planning appeals for residential developments. This change aims to reduce unnecessary delays in the approval process.
Addressing Housing Barriers: A Collaborative Effort
These new regulations align with recommendations from the HRM Housing Development Barrier Review conducted by Deloitte, which identified obstacles to rapidly increasing housing supply. The regulations also complement ongoing municipal efforts related to the federal housing accelerator program, ensuring a coordinated approach to solving HRM’s housing challenges.
Nova Scotia is set to strengthen its agri-food sector with a significant investment from Agropur dairy co-operative, as the business moves forward with a major expansion of its Bedford facility. The project is expected to bolster the province’s dairy industry while creating skilled-trade jobs during the construction phase.
Premier Tim Houston praised the decision, highlighting the alignment between Agropur’s growth strategy and the province’s broader economic goals.
“Nova Scotia is a great choice for Agropur’s expansion,” said Houston. “Agropur’s strong commitments to market diversification and growth align with our government’s plan to grow our economy and support the success of our people.”
It’s fantastic to see businesses like Agropur investing in our province. Just yesterday, they announced an expansion of their Bedford facility: creating good, skilled-trades jobs and growing our dairy sector right here at home. Minister Greg Morrow was proud to help ensure this… pic.twitter.com/4TMS41huWK
— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) April 24, 2026
Once complete, the upgraded Bedford site will serve as a key dairy ingredient processing hub. It is positioned to play a strategic role in supplying locally produced dairy proteins to meet rising national demand for protein-enriched products. The expansion will also introduce a new butter processing line, further enhancing production capacity.
The new facility is expected to open in 2028, marking a long-term investment in the region’s agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
Agropur already has a strong presence in Nova Scotia, employing more than 400 people across its Bedford and Truro operations. The expansion is anticipated to reinforce that footprint while supporting dairy farmers throughout Nova Scotia and the broader Maritime region.
Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow emphasized the importance of the project for local producers and the industry’s future.
“This is a great day for dairy farmers in Nova Scotia,” said Morrow. “The new plant is a strategic investment in local milk and milk products and will support the industry in looking at value-added projects and market and product diversification.”
The development signals growing confidence in Nova Scotia’s agri-food sector and its ability to compete in evolving domestic markets–thanks to investments from the province’s PC government.
Nova Scotia graduates will no longer need to reapply each year to keep their provincial student loans interest-free, following a new change aimed at reducing paperwork and improving access to support.
The PC government has streamlined its zero per cent interest program so that all new graduates who qualify will automatically continue receiving the benefit throughout their repayment period. The update removes the previous requirement for borrowers to submit annual applications to confirm eligibility.
We’re making it easier for Nova Scotia graduates to get ahead.
— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) April 14, 2026
Our government has removed the need to reapply each year to keep provincial student loans interest-free. That means less paperwork and no risk of losing support.
✔️ 0% interest continues automatically
✔️ Fewer… pic.twitter.com/0wRbD5ZPbM
“Graduates should be able to focus on the new, exciting stage they are starting – not worrying about whether they have filled out the paperwork to keep loan repayment affordable,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Advanced Education. “By removing the need to reapply each year, we’re making the zero per cent interest program simpler and more reliable for the Nova Scotians who depend on it.”
The program is designed to support graduates who choose to stay in Nova Scotia after completing their studies. Until now, participants were required to reapply annually to verify they still met the criteria, creating an added administrative step that could interrupt support if missed.
With the new approach, eligible borrowers will experience uninterrupted access to interest-free repayment, helping them stay focused on paying down their loans. The Province has already notified individuals currently repaying provincial student loans of the change via email.
Officials say the update is part of a broader effort to cut red tape and improve service delivery across government programs, making it easier for Nova Scotians to access the support they need.
Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia has received approval to begin new work at the Touquoy gold mine site in Moose River, Halifax County, allowing the company to process previously stockpiled ore.
The industrial approval, issued April 10 by the PC government’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, permits the processing of approximately three million tonnes of gold-bearing ore that has remained on site since operations ceased in 2023. No new mining or extraction will take place, and all work will be limited to the site’s existing disturbed footprint.
Processing is expected to take between 10 and 14 months. As part of the plan, all resulting waste material will be returned to the site’s existing open pit.
The project is expected to deliver economic benefits to the province, including the creation of about 197 jobs and an estimated $151 million contribution to Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product.
Last week our government announced that industrial approval has been granted to process existing gold ore at the Touquoy site in HRM.
— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) April 14, 2026
This work will support nearly 200 jobs and add $151 million to Nova Scotia’s economy.
There is no new mining or expanded footprint. This project… pic.twitter.com/BNpifoctP9
Reclamation of the Touquoy site began in 2024 and will continue during this phase of work. While activity in the mill area will be temporarily paused to allow for processing, cleanup efforts will proceed in other parts of the site.
To ensure the site is fully restored, the Province continues to hold a $79.9-million bond from Atlantic Mining. The bond is in place to guarantee that reclamation is completed in accordance with the Environment Act.
The approval allows previously extracted resources to be processed while maintaining environmental safeguards and ongoing site rehabilitation.
