Calgary Minute: COVID Deficits, Coal Controversy, and More Taxpayer Money Spent On Lawsuits

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• There will be no full Council meeting this week, but there are a number of Committee meetings scheduled, starting with a meeting of the Priorities and Finance Committee at 9:30 am on Tuesday.
  
  
• On Wednesday, there was going to be a meeting of the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation and Transit, but the meeting has been cancelled, and the Committee will next meet on March 17th instead.
  
  
• On Thursday, there will be a meeting of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee at 9:30 am, the Green Line Board at 10:00 am, and the Calgary Planning Commission at 1:00 pm.

Last Week In Calgary:

• A City report says COVID-19 created a $74 million shortfall in the City's budget in 2020. They estimate about half of that figure is due to COVID-related reductions in transit usage, which is understandable, but that still doesn't change where they'll get the money to cover the difference (hint: your wallet!).
  
  
• Speaking of your wallet, the City also confirmed that taxpayer money - $175,000 this time - is again being used to defend Mayor Nenshi from a slander lawsuit, this time also involving Druh Farrell. City staff claim that the City has a "duty to defend" elected officials from lawsuits, but it's not at all clear that that duty extends to any and all lawsuits that elected officials find themselves in. What do you think? Should taxpayer money be used to defend Councillors in court?
  
  
• Council also voted, 12-2, to write to Premier Kenney in opposition to the Province's coal policy and call for more consultation. The Province has already announced an almost-complete walk back of their plans.

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