The premier hasn’t ruled out vetoing a Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board decision on the controversial Waterside Centre office development if it’s not to his liking.

 

Premier Rodney MacDonald told reporters Friday he’s keeping his options open.

“Whether we do or we don’t that’s still to be determined if we exercise those options,” he said.

MacDonald says Halifax regional council was wrong to reject Armour Group’s Waterside Centre in a recent tie vote. He says the decision will hurt economic growth in the city and province, and has threatened to enact legislation to overturn council’s decision.

He has applied to weigh in during the upcoming appeal of the project at the utility and review board, despite the developer’s request for the province and others to remain out of it.

The fight over Waterside has also raised an issue around tie-votes at council meetings.

The premier said Friday a tie vote shouldn’t result in a rejection as it did recently for Waterside Centre. Regional council voted 9-9, canning the proposal, which would have preserved the facades of six heritage buildings and built a six-storey glass tower on top.

He said he plans to discuss the issue with the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

NDP leader Darrell Dexter said it’s inappropriate the province would even consider overruling a utility and review board decision.

“What message does it send to all those developers out there? Don’t bother going to council. Just come to me. I will decide whether or not your project is worth going forward.

“We either have faith in that board or we don’t,” Dexter said.

Liberal municipal relations critic Diana Whalen said it’s not time to start changing the ground rules for municipal government, when HRM by Design is soon going to law amendments.