**** CNS Media Release
Province Announces New Chair of Housing Task Force
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Fred Crooks has been named the new Chair of the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) Housing Task Force.
The Chief Regulatory Officer with the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness replaces Geoff MacLellan, who announced in November he would be stepping down but would remain chair until a replacement was found.
“The housing task force has been doing important work in helping eliminate red tape and move development approvals along in an effort to build more housing, sooner,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister John Lohr. “Mr. Crooks is familiar with the work of the task force and is well-positioned to take over and continue implementing the key actions brought forward thus far.”
Two others have also joined the task force, created in November 2021 to address housing challenges.
Vicki Elliott-Lopez replaces Paul LaFleche, Deputy Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Ms. Elliott-Lopez is the Senior Executive Director of Housing with Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as the CEO of the task force secretariat.
Jarrod Baboushkin joins Municipal Affairs and Housing in the new role of Executive Director, Housing Acceleration and Performance. Formerly with the Department of Health and Wellness, he will join the task force and play a key role in the implementation team recommended in the Deloitte report on barriers to housing development.
Kelly Denty, Executive Director of Planning and Development, and Peter Duncan, Director of Infrastructure Planning, continue to represent Halifax Regional Municipality on the task force.
The HRM Housing Task Force, part of the Province’s plan to increase housing supply, focuses on faster planning and development approvals for large residential projects in HRM. It has been successful in reducing barriers to housing development through changes to legislation, responding to the Deloitte report, and approving nine special planning areas that could result in more than 22,500 new housing units.
Quotes:
“It is an honour to be asked by the Minister to expand my role with the task force. My task force colleagues and I recognize the absolute urgency of the need for more housing of all types in HRM. This requires continued action on many fronts, and we are looking forward to the work ahead.”
– Fred Crooks, Chair, HRM Housing Task Force
Quick Facts:
— the chair of the task force is appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; HRM appointed two members and the Province appointed the remaining two
— by law, the task force will only remain in place for three years
Additional Resources:
Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality: https://novascotia.ca/housing-panel/
Deloitte report – HRM Housing Development Barrier Review: https://novascotia.ca/housing-panel/docs/housing-development-barrier-review.pdf
Mandate letter of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-MAH-EMO-MR.pdf
