District 12 - Candidates

Candidates for Councillor in District 12

Taqi Hashmi

Did not fill in survey

Julie Scott

I’m a singer and violinist, and there’s no place I’d rather be than on stage. Performing truly brings me the greatest joy.

Janet Steele

I am normally inspired by the many productions at Neptune. Family visits to Neptune for the Classic Christmas show, A Christmas Carol, moves me to embrace the spirit of Christmas.

Iona Stoddard

Did not fill in survey

Richard Zurawski

Did not fill in survey

Scroll down for the detailed feedback from the candidate:

GHAC has four specific goals we're asking candidates to engage with.
Goal One: Become a leader in funding arts and culture activities.  Will you commit to:
1. Increasing HRM arts and culture program funding until it meets and exceeds the median per capita spending on art and culture of other major Canadian cities, with a goal of consistently ranking in the top 25% for arts and culture funding within the next 4 years?
2. Indexing HRM arts and culture funding to inflation to avoid real value erosion of funding envelopes?
3. Structuring HRM arts and culture funding programs to ensure equitable and meaningful investments in underrepresented communities and new voices?
4. Initiating a new HRM peer-reviewed funding program for grants to professional artist individuals and small groups targeted towards creation, presentation and professional development?
5. Initiating a new HRM program to fund artistic residencies promoting artistic research, creation and community engagement within HRM departments (example: Halifax Public Gardens artist-in-residence)?

Taqi Hashmi

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

Julie Scott

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Yes
​5. Yes

Janet Steele

1. Without more visibility into the current funding, it is challenging to commit to ranking in the top 25% for arts and culture funding.
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. I would support this program if the budget permitted. I am always mindful that municipal taxation is a regressive tax placing a high burden on lower income residents. ​
​5. This could align nicely with the work of other HRM departments and perhaps it could be put in place without major budgetary implications.

Iona Stoddard

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

Richard Zurawski

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered
​5. Unanswered

Goal Two:  Increase supply of varied, accessible artistic venues and cultural production facilities.  Will you commit to:
1. Addressing gaps identified in HRM Performing & Visual Arts Venues Study (2024) and Discover Halifax Venues Inventory and Assessment (forthcoming)?
2. Providing major capital grants to arts and culture organizations building or renovating venues for the production or presentation of arts and culture?
3. Providing capital improvement grants to arts and culture organizations who own or rent premises?
4. Increasing grant funding available to non-profit arts and culture organizations that rent space to offset the steep rise in rental costs?

Taqi Hashmi

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

Julie Scott

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. No
4. Yes

Janet Steele

1. I commit to looking at options to support an increase in venues. Any investment would need to be part of an overall strategic plan for the sector.
2. I would commit to working with partners to fund new buildings and renovating existing venues.
3. Yes
4. Yes

Iona Stoddard

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

Richard Zurawski

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered
4. Unanswered

Goal Three:  Equitable access to diverse arts learning opportunities for all citizens, in and out of schools.  Will you commit to:
1. Piloting a collaborative delivery model between HRM Parks & Recreation and local professional arts and culture organizations to increase arts and culture program offerings
2. Prioritizing arts education in schools by ensuring funds continue to be allocated through a Supplementary Education Funding Agreement between HRM and Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) and that such funds stay dedicated to arts education?
3. Increasing public event venue-use at Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) facilities for arts and culture programming by targeting staffing, funding and maintenance of such venues?

Taqi Hashmi

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Julie Scott

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Janet Steele

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Iona Stoddard

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Richard Zurawski

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Goal Four:  An HRM where everyone can participate in thriving arts and culture activities.  Will you commit to:
1. Offering free public transit for major arts and cultural events, building off successful piloted efforts such as free transit for the first weekend in December, and chartered Halifax Transit buses for Nocturne and Juno Awards events?
2. Funding arts and culture organizations to improve financial accessibility of arts and culture experiences by reducing or eliminating admission fees for arts and culture events, programs, and activities?
3. Retaining and growing the creative and artistic workforce in HRM by developing affordable housing and live/work spaces for artists, and creating a Housing Task Force that includes artists, arts organizations, planners, and developers to define needs and propose viable economic models?

Taqi Hashmi

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Julie Scott

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes

Janet Steele

1. Yes
2. I would support reduced admission fees for lower income residents.
3. The provincial government has the lead role in housing. Given the affordability crisis, I am loathe to commit HRM to becoming more involved with housing. Municipal taxation is regressive and lower income taxpayers pay a larger percentage of income than middle and high income earners.

Iona Stoddard

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

Richard Zurawski

1. Unanswered
2. Unanswered
3. Unanswered

How else do you commit to supporting and strengthening the arts and culture sector in Halifax, and improving the lives of the thousands of citizens who are arts and culture workers?

Taqi Hashmi

Did not fill in survey

Julie Scott

To support and strengthen Halifax’s arts and culture sector and improve the lives of its thousands of workers, I would prioritize sustainable funding, affordable spaces, and community engagement. Increasing grants and financial support for artists, musicians, and cultural organizations would provide stability. I would partner with the private sector and leveraging public funds could help sustain ongoing cultural projects and festivals.

​Also, I want to promote local talent through city-backed cultural programs, exhibitions, and events that would give artists platforms to showcase their work. Improving arts education in schools and offering community outreach programs would foster creativity among youth and underrepresented groups, ensuring a future for the cultural workforce. These steps can cultivate a thriving arts scene that enriches both the economy and quality of life in Halifax!

Janet Steele

I would support renewed funding for the Halifax Regional Arts Supplementary Funding Agreement, continue to fund artists through commissioning public art and actively and visibly participating in arts and culture events.

Iona Stoddard

Did not fill in survey

Richard Zurawski

Did not fill in survey

If there's anything else you'd like to tell us about your vision for arts and culture in Halifax, please use the space below.

Taqi Hashmi

Did not fill in survey

Julie Scott

N/A

Janet Steele

My vision is one of HRM working with other levels of government and community partners to create an environment that fosters, values and supports arts and culture. This vision includes promoting and enabling an inclusive range of arts and culture opportunities in the Halifax Regional Municipality. I also envisage an expanded effort to improve representation of equity seeking groups including Mi' Kmaq, African Nova Scotian, LGBTQ2S+, persons with disabilities and immigrants and newcomers. In addition, I would strongly support the Supplementary Education Funding Agreement with Halifax Regional Centre for Education.

Iona Stoddard

Did not fill in survey

Richard Zurawski

Did not fill in survey