HALIFAX, N.S. — Halifax Regional Council recently held the first budget meeting since the new council was sworn in. However the budget meeting went differently this time around, as most motions were put forward by a guest the council brought in as a “true budgeting expert,” second-year Dalhousie University student Carter LeBlanc.
“We want to put taxpayers’ dollars in safe hands,” said district 12 councillor Arasha Bharali. “Most council members have complete and utter faith in LeBlanc. He knows what he’s doing.”
LeBlanc told the Mackerel that his ideas for municipal budgeting are based on personal experiences.
“I just opened my banking app, I was like okay most of my spending is on Uber Eats, so let’s give money to the restaurants,” said LeBlanc. “The rest of my money goes towards alcohol and weed. Bam. Budget made.”
LeBlanc’s proposed budget continued HRM’s trend of defunding the police department, citing his reasoning as “they’re just not chill” and “if they are underfunded and understaffed they will leave my parties alone.”
There were, however, concerns for LeBlanc’s refusal to put any money towards education or housing.
“My parents pay my tuition and rent. Why don’t we all just ask our parents to do that? Why does it have to come out of the city budget?”
Mayor elect Andy Fillmore was absent from the in person meeting, joining via Zoom from the beach in Aruba, with microphone muted and camera off.
Halifax resident Kevin Vito urged to Fillmore to return, and shared a brief message with the Mackerel: “We’re fucked.”
By Sam Creighton