°µÍø½ûÇø

In May, Halifax Water applied to the province's regulatory board to raise rates by 16.2 per cent in the 2025-26 fiscal year and by 17.6 per cent the following year, for a total of 36.6 per cent. 

"A rate increase of this magnitude is more than a technical adjustment; it represents a significant financial burden for thousands of households,� Fillmore said in the letter. “Residents fear they will be forced to make difficult choices between paying for essential utilities and meeting other basic needs.� 

He also urged the board to consider all of the impacts of the proposed rate hike.

“Affordable, safe, and reliable water service is a public necessity, not a luxury,� he wrote.

A community group, Stop the Water Hike, has also started a campaign to put pressure on the regulatory board.

Among the businesses speaking out against the proposed hike is Oland Brewery, a Halifax fixture dating back to 1867. 

Oland’s general manager told the regulatory board last week that if utility costs continue to rise, companies like theirs may move to more affordable jurisdictions. This comes as Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston has touted the necessity of removing interprovincial trade barriers.

"We recognize the importance for Halifax Water’s operational sustainability, but an increase of this size in a single year is extremely challenging for local businesses," says Kristen Cooper, senior director of communications for Labatt Breweries, which owns Oland.

"Oland Brewery has a long and valued history in Nova Scotia, and we’ve encouraged the board to consider a phased approach that supports both Halifax Water’s needs and the long-term success of the business community.�

A public hearing on Halifax Water’s rate application begins next week. 

This report by °µÍø½ûÇø was first published Sept. 10, 2025.