Jacques Dubé is stepping down as the Halifax Regional Municipality’s top bureaucrat.
The city’s chief administrative officer gave his resignation to regional council on May 18. Dubé has been Halifax’s CAO since 2016.
In a news release, Mayor Mike Savage said Dubé’s contributions to Halifax “have been very significant” and that he has been a “strong leader” during his time with the city.
“The CAO’s leadership and professional team have ensured we continue to build not just a bigger city but a better one that will benefit residents for years to come. I have very much enjoyed working with Jacques,” Savage said.
During his tenure, Dubé oversaw a city that grew at a record rate and became one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Canada. Particularly over the past few years, Halifax has gained a reputation as one of the best places to live in the country.
He is also the city’s highest-paid employee, earning $298,163 last fiscal year.
Dube was also at the centre of some controversy during his time as CAO.
About a year after he was hired, he faced strong scrutiny and eventually apologized after sending a lengthy and disturbing text message to the city’s chief financial officer, Amanda Whitewood, in an apparent attempt at a joke.
More recently, Dube has faced the same criticism levelled at many city councillors over the city’s removal of temporary housing from city property.
Halifax police’s aggressive expulsion of unhoused residents in August of 2021 sparked widespread demonstrations in the city. In the aftermath, many called out Dubé specifically for his involvement in the plan to remove the shelters.
In a news release, the Halifax Regional Municipality said Dube will stay on as CAO until the end of 2022 to “continue his duties..and assist with the eventual transition process.”
In the coming weeks, council will start looking for his replacement with support from the municipality’s Human Resources division.
***Trevor Nichols is a reporter with HuddleToday.ca. Huddle Today Limited and Acadia Broadcasting are each part of the Ocean Capital Group.
