Musings of the Technical Bard » Municipal

The City of Calgary shouldn’t waste time on “sustainable food”

Taliesyn — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:24:44 +0000

The other day on my drive home, Angela Kokott (CHQR 770 drive home show host) interviewed Calgary alderman Giancarlo Carra (Ward 9) about the City of Calgary’s efforts to consider the “Sustainability of the Food Supply”. Carra droned on about the need for the City to have a food plan to make sure that all Calgarians …

Calgary Budget 2012

Taliesyn — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:12:43 +0000

Calgary city council is currently debating the 2012-2014 budget, and all the news is about whether or not they can maintain a property tax hike of 5%, or will it have to go higher. None of the city councilors seem to think that increasing spending at a rate well above inflation + population growth is …

On Infrastructure Spending in Calgary

Taliesyn — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 05:30:21 +0000

Although it has passed from the daily news in the City of Calgary, we still have a budget problem. The municipal government is spending too much money and is having to raise property taxes steeply to pay for it all. Municipal politicians, such as Mayor Nenshi, continue complain that cities should be given more …

Calgary’s Mayor is wrong

Taliesyn — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:35:49 +0000

Calgary’s new mayor, Naheed Nenshi (who happened to be the University of Calgary Student’s Union President one year when I was attending there), is wrong when it comes to how to pay for infrastructure and services in the growing communities being developed around the edges of the city. He stated: City council will have to …

Environmentalists accused of fraud? Can’t be!

Taliesyn — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 18:05:04 +0000

I am fascinated by this news story from Toronto. A group representing dozens of lawn care companies trying to bring charges against Ontario’s environment minister and senior bureaucrats over the province’s controversial pesticide ban is now calling for charges against 23 activists. Group spokesman Jeffrey Lowes of MREP Communications said Wednesday that information has been …

Calgary council makes good decision…

Taliesyn — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:29:40 +0000

for the wrong reasons… Calgary city council decided last night to kill the proposed pesticide bylaw because it doesn’t include a ban on cosmetic pesticides. As I’ve written previously on two occasions (here and here), we don’t need a ban on cosmetic pesticides because they aren’t considered dangerous by any rational group. By Brian Pincott …

On the SW Calgary Ring Road

Taliesyn — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 03:01:41 +0000

This past week, the members of the Tsuu T’ina Nation voted 60% to reject a plan put forward by the City of Calgary and Province of Alberta to trade land on the eastern edge of the reserve for other lands to be named later. The City wanted this land to build the southwest leg of …

Another Cash Grab from Calgary City Hall

Taliesyn — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:02:49 +0000

Calgary city council has decided that charging transit riders $3.00 to park their cars at park-n-ride lots at train stations is a good idea, because it will raise $6 million per year. Of course, with increasing fares, it will now cost a commuter $8 per day. Now, admittedly parking costs downtown are significantly higher than …

25% Tax Increase – Just Say No!

Taliesyn — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:56:38 +0000

OK – so Bronco and his minions at City Hall (Calgary) want to raise property taxes by 25%. This is ridiculous. The city is growing, yes. And growing at a rate of 3-4% per year. And yes there is inflation. But growth also means more taxpayers. So hosing everyone with this gigantic increase is completely …

Bad government in Calgary

Taliesyn — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:18:21 +0000

So, the economy is starting to slide, oil prices (and provincial royalties) are slipping and unemployment are likely to rise… Crime is a high profile news item on most days and the city wants more police… So they decide to spend $25 Million on fancy new pedestrian bridges because they will “help reduce traffic congestion” …