HALIFAX — Two Halifax residents say the city's mayor is being investigated for an alleged breach of the municipal code of conduct because of comments he made about the power structure at city hall.
The residents say Andy Fillmore was misleading when he told the CBC earlier this summer that the mayor reports to the chief administrative officer, who he said holds the real power.
Peter Linfield said in an interview Wednesday he filed a complaint because Fillmore either does not understand municipal politics, or is intentionally misleading the public while pushing for stronger mayoral powers.
"Either way I was really concerned by that misinformation," Linfield said.
Halifax Regional Municipality's organizational structure says the chief administrative officer reports to regional council, of which the mayor is part. It is the job of the chief officer to communicate the decisions of council to municipal staff.
Fillmore has criticized the city's "weak" mayoral powers, as the Nova Scotia government considers giving mayors in the province a stronger voice in councils. Currently, all elected councillors in Nova Scotia — including mayors — have a single vote on councils.
The Canadian Press has reviewed emails obtained by Linfield and another complainant — Jillian Banfield — from an independent consultant confirming that their complaints have merit and as a result Fillmore is under investigation.
Neither Fillmore nor the consultant were immediately available for comment. A spokesperson for the municipality would neither confirm nor deny that the mayor is being investigated, citing privacy.
On Tuesday, the Halifax Examiner reported that Fillmore is being investigated because of code of conduct complaints made against him after a town hall meeting.
Banfield said in an interview Wednesday she filed a complaint because she feels the mayor's claim about the municipal power structure was harmful.
"For our elected officials to be really misleading the public about what's going on and how things work, I think is very problematic," she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 4, 2025.
Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press
