Kelly's decision could cost the HRM taxpayer millions

Halifax's new wastewater treatment plants could be obsolete before Peter Kelly has a chance to uncork the wine. Under Mayor Kelly's leadership and guidance, HRM council voted in favour of going ahead with advanced primary treatment plants. Systems that one councillor warned would not meet new federal standards. Her warning calls were ignored.

Despite countless warnings by Councillor Dawn Sloane that the then proposed advanced primary wastewater treatment plants would require millions of dollars worth of upgrades in order to meet the new federal standards, HRM council, under the leadership and guidance of Mayor Peter Kelly moved ahead with a deficient wastewater treatment system.

Slaone argued that it would be more cost efficient in the long run to construct secondary treatment plants, which would meet new federal standards as opposed to upgrading at a later date, at a higher cost to the taxpayer.

Now we find out that yes, indeed, Halifax's shiny, yet to be completed sewage treatment plants will not meet federal standards. An upgrade will be required and it is estimated that the cost of this upgrade will be in the order of $100 million.

During a recent tour of the sewage treatment plant, Kelly told the media that if secondary treatment becomes mandatory, Halifax will be seeking financial assistance from the federal and provincial governments for the upgrades.

Is this leadership?