Municipalities Lead
Budget Day
On Thursday, the UCP government announced about $62-billion in spending in its 2021-’22 budget. Finance Minister Travis Toews estimated an $18.2-billion deficit in the coming year.
Election
Druh Farrell, a six-term Calgary city councillor, announced she won’t be seeking another term on council in October.
I won’t be running for re-election this fall. It won’t be me championing our Downtown into the coming decades. We need bold leadership around the council table to ensure our Downtown is transformed into a true community where people will want to live, work, learn, and play for years to come. City-building is no easy task but, after 20 years around the council table, I can tell you it is worth it.
Election Finance
The conservative Western Standard published a story about a complaint allegedly made to Alberta’s chief electoral officer by former Calgary alderman and failed mayoral candidate Joe Connelly. The story notes Connelly has filed the complaint, and that he alleges with it that current Calgary mayoral candidate Jyoti Gondek has violated election finance laws.
Stephen Carter, with Gondek’s campaign, told the Western Standard that Connelly’s allegation was completely false. “The entire cost was paid for using campaign funds. Where’s [Connelly’s] evidence? Is it just made up?”
Things got testier from there.
#YEG Gondola Watch
Miscellany
Alberta government coal development consultation opens March 29