News release

Assessment Fair, Says Minister

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly is wrong in his comments on Nova Scotia’s assessment services, says Angus MacIsaac, minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

The minister was responding to accusations by Mayor Kelly and city councillor Harry McInroy that the department has been "unduly favouring the Westin hotel with a low assessment."

"The assessment of the Westin is rock solid," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Our assessors have examined the property every year and included the significant investments that were required to bring the landmark hotel up to modern standards."

The assessment of the Westin is reviewed annually by competing hotel owners and is available to the Halifax Regional Municipality. Mr. MacIsaac noted that the assessment division has responded to inquiries from other members of the hotel industry, but has never heard any concern from the municipality on the Westin assessment. The assessment has never been challenged.

"The mayor and councillor McInroy both know that they could bring any concerns about any property assessment to the department for a review,” MacIsaac said. “They have never done so with the Westin."

Nova Scotia’s assessment services has received national recognition by the Appraisal Institute of Canada.

"The province and Nova Scotia’s largest municipality have a lot of issues to deal with over the next few years and this kind of unfounded, personal attack is not going to help," concluded the minister. "I’ll be encouraging the mayor to come to a more productive level of discussion."