A Halifax regional councillor's suggestion that the province buy a piece of land in his constituency that a businessman failed to turn into a waste management facility is "totally inappropriate," says the local MLA.

Preston-Dartmouth MLA Keith Colwell slammed Coun. David Hendsbee's suggestion that the province "might be able to help out" businessman Lawrence Bellefontaine.

Bellefontaine, who owns Kiann Management, had applied to rezone a property on Highway 7 for a waste management facility. But earlier this month, city planners said the site was not suitable for what he wanted to do.

Hendsbee, who represents Preston-Chezzetcook-Eastern Shore, then sent an email to Natural Resources Minister Lloyd Hines suggesting the purchase.

"It would be appropriate for Mr. Bellefontaine to seek any remedy and recoup some of his expenditure," Hendsbee wrote in the email last week. "I believe he may have spent approximately $200,000 to date … hence my suggestion that the province might be able to help out somewhat by acquiring his land."

Hendsbee copied several people on the email, including Colwell.

Colwell said he was "shocked and surprised" to receive the suggestion.

"Trying to get someone — the province of Nova Scotia, number one — to bail out the municipality and a businessman to the tune of $200,000 just doesn't make economic sense," Colwell said. "It doesn't make sense of any kind. I think it's totally inappropriate."

Colwell said, although the community has rallied against the facility, he has never heard any member of the community suggest the province buy the property, except for Hendsbee.

"It's not a proper thing to do as an elected representative on anybody's behalf. I don't know where the idea came from," he said.

Bellefontaine told CBC News that he was waiting to see the outcome of Hendsbee's suggestion, but that it didn't come from him. He said his application is still on hold. ​

Local residents were also surprised by Hendsbee's email.

Mike Thomas, who has campaigned against the facility for 16 months, said the email made him angry. Since the beginning of the controversy over the facility, Hendsbee has maintained that he must remain neutral.

"It came as a big shock because it doesn't point to neutrality," Thomas said. "He's not, in my opinion at least, remaining neutral. You have to remember as well, this process isn't over."

Although the application is currently on hold, Bellefontaine could change his mind and continue to bring the application to community council.

Thomas said he doesn't feel buying the property would be a good deal for the province, because it has waste on it already. Kiann Management was served with a litter abatement order in July 2016 by the provincial Environment Department.

Thomas also said as a businessperson he doesn't think the province should be on the hook for a private business matter.

Hendsbee said he actually opposes the project, but had been unable to speak about the issue until the staff decision on zoning was sent to Kiann Management. He said he has no financial interest in the matter, and his goal in sending the proposal to the province was to try to find a location for the facility that would be acceptable to the community.

"The community asked the C&D [construction and demolition] facility be located in an industrial park," he said. "I'm just trying to find ways how that can be accommodated, through acquisition of property or land swap."

According to Hendsbee, the suggestion that the province buy the property came from the public.

Hendsbee told Bellefontaine if the issue went to community council there was little chance council would let the application go ahead. He therefore saw discussion on the site as over, leaving him free to take a stand.

"Some of the candidates are trying to use this issue to bolster their platforms, and I, as a sitting councillor, could not speak out publicly against the application," Hendsbee said. "I had to have the process go through this means. That way, I couldn't be criticized of being biased on the report. Therefore staff made the recommendations, they're not supporting the re-zoning. At that time, I could make my thoughts known," he said.

Thomas is doubtful.

"If I had to hazard a guess, my own personal feeling is I do not believe this is a coincidence. I suspect that possibly, yes, the election, given that it's four weeks away, is why Mr. Hendsbee is speaking out at this time," Thomas said.

The property, which Bellefontaine bought in a tax sale, is assessed at just over $13,300.

In an email from Natural Resources, a spokesperson confirmed the department has no plans to buy any land on Highway 7 in Lake Echo.