It's been six weeks since Jacques Dubé became Halifax's new chief administrative officer, replacing Richard Butts who took a job working for a local developer.

As CAO, Dubé is responsible for managing the municipality's $850-million budget. Until recently, he was CAO of Moncton. Prior to that, he was a deputy minister at the provincial level in New Brunswick.

Here are four things to know about him:

1. Halifax is in a 'different league' than Moncton

​Dubé compared working in Halifax and Moncton with a hockey player playing in the NHL versus playing in the American Hockey League.

"Moncton has got a lot of strengths and a great future, but Halifax is much larger," Dubé said. "It has way more assets, it has way more people, it has way more economic opportunity, it's way more diverse as a community in and of itself, so there really isn't much competition there in truth."

There's been a long-standing perception that Moncton and Halifax are rivals. The two cities have battled it out for concerts and Ikea stores. ​Dubé said the rivalry is overexaggerated.

"I've been in New Brunswick when foreign investment opportunities came to Atlantic Canada and sometimes they're choosing between Moncton and Halifax," ​Dubé said.

"Those are rare occasions ... People will say 'Moncton got a football game' or 'Halifax got the World Junior Hockey Championship and Moncton didn't,' but I would argue there's actually more opportunity for collaboration between the two cities."

2. Focus on cutting red tape for small businesses

Dubé said he's heard a lot of complaints from local business owners about how the municipality is applying rules, regulations and permits.

"We have to make sure that rules that are necessary are applied, but to cut unnecessary rules that don't make sense," said Dubé.

Dubé said regional council has already approved an initiative that will have municipal officials partnering with the province to look at removing red tape for businesses. He adds the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses plans to help with that process.

3. The timing of his appointment is 'perfect'

Dubé was the master of ceremonies at the swearing in of the new Halifax regional council Tuesday. With 10 returning councillors and the mayor, plus six new councillors, he won't be the new man at city hall much longer.

"It's a great opportunity now to get into a strategic planning process with the new council, help them establish what their priorities are and then I get my marching orders from their priorities ... my job is to try and deliver on those over the next four years," Dubé said.

"It's a great opportunity, it's the perfect timing. I couldn't ask for better."

4. Why every municipality can benefit from a fresh set of eyes

Dubé said he was recently dropped off at Alderney Landing from Halifax and noted that there wasn't a sign on the way welcoming people to Dartmouth. He then asked staff why.

"It's a good thing that you can come in with fresh eyes and ask why," he said. "That's the most important question around any organization when you come into it is 'Why?'"