CFIB says businesses need mitigation policy in face of development

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business says businesses need protection from large development projects in Halifax that are costing them customers and money.

Nick Langley is the director of provincial affairs for the CFIB and says the group wants the city of Halifax to create a construction mitigation policy to help businesses cope with long-term infrastructure projects.

"It's about reducing the impact on local businesses during long construction projects," Langley said, describing what the policy would be.

"It's having clear, defined rules for developers, construction companies, and also local businesses during these projects."

Langley says the concept is not new, with many cities in Canada and the United States already having similar policies in place.

He said it's about making sure local businesses have concerns heard before these mega-projects start.

"Development is good, people want to see this investment in our community, but, the fact is, businesses have to be able to survive the long construction period in order to reap the benefits of this development," he told CBC's Information Morning.

The group wants to make a proposal to HRM council and start talking to them about better consultation with local business before projects begin, especially better parking options and pedestrian routes.

He said the need for a policy really came to light with the current Nova Centre project in downtown Halifax.

"That is not to take a knock against the developer. These are things that weren't known to them before," Langley said.

"The city really has to set the ground rules and it's working with developers and working with local business to establish these rules."

HRM staff are expected to give a revised report on coming up with some sort of construction mitigation policy in September.

Langley said he hopes council approaches the issue with a sense of urgency because more projects are starting up in the city.

"This is a problem that needs to be addressed now. We've been advocating for over a year to council," he said.