THE GREATER HALIFAX PARTNERSHIP. WHY?

If you look at exactly what the Greater Halifax Partnership does, or claims to do, they appear to be duplication, triplication or (with apologies to me grammar teachers) a fourplication of services that already exist in the federal and provincial governments as well as in the private sectors.One big difference is they appear to be in the high-risk loan business.

They are listed as an unsecured creditor for Nova Scotia Glass to the tune of $17,645.05 in issue # 552 of Frank Magazine. This is all fine and well except for one slight problem? Where are they getting the money they are passing out? They are not a bank, finance company, trust company or credit union. Where does the money come from?If you look in the minutes of HRM council around budget time you will see that HRM council votes this company over a million dollars of HRM tax dollars annually to operate.

How many municipal tax dollars are funneled through this organization into local businesses? How much in high risk loans? How much in grants? The city council is forbidden by law to put money into for profit companies. Could this be simply a front to skirt this law? Where else does the partnership get it’s financing?

If it is a viable and needed business why does it need over a million dollars annually to run? In difficult economic times (or even in good times) this set up seems to be one big waste of HRM tax dollars, tax dollars that could be used to clear snow, repair roads or any on the numerous tasks HRM council is mandated to do but are always falling short on.Its time that government at all levels took a hard look at where our tax dollars are being spent with an eye to cutting costs and this seems, to me, to be one of the better places if not the best place to start in with the tax saving axe.
I guess the bottom line question here is just who is on the hook for this money, The Greater Halifax partnership as a private business like a bank or us the HRM taxpayers.

Bruce DeVenne