Marnie Cluckie Assumes Role as Halifax CAO, Citing Growth Challenges
Marnie Cluckie has officially begun her tenure as the Chief Administrative Officer for the Halifax Regional Municipality. She replaces acting CAO Brad Anguish and will oversee a $1.45 billion budget and 5,000 employees, aiming to address issues like traffic, transit, and housing.
Marnie Cluckie started her new role as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) on Wednesday. She succeeds Brad Anguish, who served as the acting CAO following the retirement of Cathie O’Toole in September 2025.
In her new position, Cluckie will manage an operating budget of approximately $1.45 billion and lead a workforce of about 5,000 employees. Her appointment comes at a time of significant expansion for the region; HRM’s population increased by more than 100,000 residents between 2021 and July of last year, reaching roughly 544,834 people.
Cluckie identified rapid growth and its associated pressures—specifically traffic congestion, transit issues, aging infrastructure, and affordable housing—as key factors that drew her to the role. Prior to joining Halifax, she served as the city manager for Hamilton, Ontario, starting in early 2024, and previously held the position of CAO in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
During her introduction, Cluckie acknowledged past leadership turnover in Hamilton, where more than a dozen senior staff were fired within a council term. However, she emphasized that her initial approach in Halifax would be to listen and learn before implementing any structural changes. She also noted that while she sees pros and cons to the 'strong mayor' model used in Ontario, her focus remains on being effective regardless of the governance structure.
Halifax Mayor Andy Fillmore and Deputy Mayor Patty Cuttell expressed support for the appointment, citing Cluckie’s experience with complex municipal challenges and her energy for the role.