Alberta’s government is launching a municipal inspection into Calgary’s management of the maligned Bearspaw feeder mainfollowing its second major failure in less than two years.
“At its core this is about one simple thing,” explained Municipal Affairs Minister, Dan Williams. “It’s about rebuilding trust with Calgarians and Albertans with the infrastructure they expect to see every morning when they turn on the taps.”
The province says “inspections are an extraordinary measure” that will determine whether additional provincial direction or correction is needed.
The inspection will be led by former board chair of the Alberta Energy Regulator, David Goldie.
Goldie will be able to collect testimony from municipal officials, among others he considers necessary to provide evidence.
He can also speak to outside technical experts as well as any documents or in-camera council minutes.
Earlier this year, the province requested thousands of documents from the city, following a second critical failure of the Bearspaw feeder main on Dec. 30.
The City of Calgary had until Jan. 27 to provide all documentation.
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“(I) really welcome that … really appreciative of the minister’s engagement,” Farkas told Global News on Friday morning.
“I think it’s appropriate for them to be checking our work, doing their own due diligence. What we’re seeing here in Calgary isn’t necessarily unique to our municipality.”
Farkas says other mayors from across the country have reached out to discuss the broader issues of infrastructure deficits and governance in the wake of Calgary’s crisis.
“I think we’re proving we can do here in Calgary what no other place can,” Farkas said, speaking of the expedited timeline for the replacement project.
Since the break was repaired in mid-January, the city has embarked on an ambitious plan to replace a large section of the pipe, which Mayor Jeromy Farkas has deemed “critically ill.”
The project, along with other water infrastructure concerns, has city officials asking council for an extra $600 million injection of cash over the next two fiscal years.
Williams downplayed concerns the inspection will unfairly focus on former Calgary mayor, Naheed Nenshi, who now leads Alberta’s opposition NDP.
“I’m not going to be using this as a bludgeon … I’m not going to predetermine any outcome. What I will do is make sure there’s accountability.”
Williams says the inspection process will likely last until the fall and results will be shared with the City of Calgary and Albertans shortly thereafter.
The province would be able to legally bind the City of Calgary to undertake corrective action if required.
“Procedural fairness and due process will guide every step of the inspection to ensure the review is conducted carefully — and the findings are fair and credible to the public,” Williams said.
On Monday, crews began critical repair work to several damaged sections of the existing pipe, resulting in stage four water restrictions across the city and surrounding communities.
“It affects (Calgarians) every single day, including this week,” Williams said. “This municipality and its residents live with the shadow that they might have to reduce their water (use), or could run out of water.”
“This is a public health concern, nevermind a question of quality of life.”
Be careful what you wish. This is not the US.
This is nothing but a w1tch hunt.