Gondek says Alberta should stop picking fights with feds, blasts proposed bill
Posted Apr 9, 2024 4:09 pm.
Last Updated Apr 9, 2024 7:15 pm.
Calgary’s mayor is weighing in on the idea of new legislation that would prevent the federal government from funding the city without consulting the province first.
Jyoti Gondek is speaking up after Jason Nixon, Alberta’s minister of seniors, community and social services, said last week the UCP government will introduce a bill that, if passed, would mean any funding between Ottawa and municipalities would have to get approval from the provincial government. Similar legislation is already in place in Quebec.
Millions of dollars in housing investment for the city may be at risk if the legislation passes, says Gondek.
“It’s simply going to slow things down, that will make life worse for Calgarians, not better,” she says. “For a government that talks about cutting red tape and overreach, this is rich.”
Gondek says she was not consulted about the legislation and says the provincial government needs to stop picking fights with the federal government.
“Mom and dad just want to fight with each other, I’m tired of it,” she said. “Cities deserve better.”
She adds the lack of funding from the province is one of the reasons why property taxes in the city have had to go up.
“My question would be, are you willing to step in and pay for everything? Are you willing to build the relationships to make sure that money flows to us?” asks Gondek. “Because I don’t see that happening.”
“What I see, is a government picking a fight with another and refusing to let the city that’s in the middle of it actually get the money that its citizens deserve and need.”
Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott also weighed in on the thought of said legislation, calling it an opportunity for the provincial government to get in the way of the federal government addressing a crisis.
“It’s really exciting that they are stepping up, and here we have a province trying to slow them down,” says Walcott.
More details on the province’s legislation is expected to be revealed on Wednesday.
