Nova Scotia Provincial Government along with the Halifax Regional Municipality have made the unilateral decision to install at least 19 small structures (built by the “Pallet Company") to house at least 30 homeless residents at 125 Metropolitan Avenue, Lower Sackville, NS.

This location is within 200 metres of Leslie Thomas Junior High School and directly across the street from a skatepark and track. The recent RCMP raid at the encampment on Cobequid Road made it clear there are ongoing drug and crime problems among some of the proposed residents of the Pallet Village. 

There has been little to no community consultation regarding this “Pallet Village”. Residents’ emails and phones calls continue to be ignored. This development (and the planned development on Cobequid Rd & Glendale) are in direct violation of longstanding HRM land use by-laws and zoning statutes. 

By signing this petition we are demanding that NS Minister of Community Services Trevor Boudreau and HRM Council immediately order the stoppage of the ongoing work at 125 Metropolitan Avenue and that this “Pallet Village” be placed in a non-residential area, away from schools and places where children congregate. In addition, we demand that going forward local and provincial governments follow existing zoning and land use by-laws and engage with their constituents when proposing projects that will change communities as drastically as this will. 

We acknowledge that there is a serious problem with housing and poverty in Nova Scotia but our governments' failures to address these ongoing issues is no excuse to make rushed, uninformed decisions.

It is our belief that placing these shelters across the street from Leslie Thomas Jr. High endangers children and local residents. In addition, we believe there is no legal basis for the continued violations of land use and zoning laws.

If our leaders continue to ignore our concerns we will be forced to request intervention by the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.