Halifax election candidates aim to make council more diverse

Seven visible minority candidates are among the 50 people running for council across the Halifax region, more than double the number in the 2012 campaign when no one of colour was elected.   

The current council is entirely white and only a quarter of the councillors are women. But at least one of the contenders in District 8 Halifax Peninsula North thinks that will change after election day on Oct. 15.

"I'm confident that we will see a person of colour on city council after this election," said Irvine Carvery. "I believe the voters are ready to elect — vote for the most able candidate — and will take into consideration the question of diversity."

• Nova Scotia's e-voting underway ahead of municipal elections

Carvery is a political veteran. He's run for council before against Graham Downey, who was Halifax's first and so far only black councillor. Downey was first elected in 1974 and lost to Dawn Sloane in 2000. Downey died in 2015.

Carvery has also been the chairman of the Halifax Regional School Board and a candidate in both provincial and federal elections.  

First-time candidates

But there are a number of first-timers. Iona Stoddard is a black woman running in District 12 Timberlea-Beechville-Clayton Park-Wedgewood, which not only includes black communities but some of Halifax's most diverse neighbourhoods.   

"Diversity is not black and white, it's sexual orientation, it's religion," said Stoddard.

"The more diverse council gets, the more people will come out and vote because they'll actually be able to see somebody in council that looks like them."

'Forgotten about'

Carlos Beals, who is black and running in District 6 Harbourview-Burnside-Dartmouth East, agrees with Stoddard. He's been canvassing in north-end neighbourhoods, an area that traditionally has had the lowest voter turnout in the municipality.

He said a conversation with one woman has stayed with him.

"She said, 'You know, you are the first candidate that has knocked on my door from any level of government within the past 20 years, and I thank you for listening to what concerns I have because I feel as if I have been forgotten about,'" said Beals.

'It's a basic right'

According Beals, people in various parts of the district are worried about affordable housing, reliable transit and safer communities. 

Mohammad Ehsan, a candidate in District 10 Halifax-Bedford Basin West, thinks one way to increase voter turnout is to allow permanent residents to vote in municipal elections.  

"Not just because they pay taxes, it's a basic right," said Ehsan. "If we want to welcome people, let them be in the mainstream."

First transgender candidate

Halifax also has it's first transgender candidate, in District 5 Dartmouth Centre. Gabriel Enxuga says he has had a great reaction at the doorsteps.  

"In some ways it's important because as queer and trans people we need to see ourselves represented," said Enxuga. 

"But in another way I think it's not important because my trans identity has nothing to do with my ability to make good policy decisions."