Info based on municipal release:

Halifax Regional Municipality has announced that Chief Administrative Officer Cathie O’Toole will retire in October after more than 25 years in public service.

The CAO is the highest-ranking municipal staff member and is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the city. While elected officials make decisions on policy and priorities, the CAO oversees city staff, manages the municipal budget, and ensures those decisions are carried out. The role is critical to keeping services running smoothly and professionally, regardless of who is in political office.

O’Toole informed the municipality of her decision on July 9. She has served as CAO since January 2023 and will continue in the role into the fall to help Mayor and Regional Council develop a transition plan.

“It has been an honour to serve both the municipality and Halifax Water, and I take pride in the projects and initiatives I have had the privilege of working on and leading,” said O’Toole in a statement released by HRM.

In recent comments, Mayor Andy Fillmore noted that O’Toole’s departure comes at a significant time as the municipality discusses new “strong mayor” powers. Fillmore said those powers “should not be viewed as a substitute for the CAO role,” and emphasized that “we need to ensure the CAO position remains central to how the municipality functions.”

More details, including O’Toole’s final day and the transition plan, will be shared in the coming weeks.