Nenshi pushes back against 'posturing and empty threats' from municipal affairs minister

Saying Alberta's minister of municipal affairs "tends to lash out rather than reach out," Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi called for a new approach toward relations between Alberta's major cities and the provincial government.

"You know, the minister was not, in fact, elected by anyone in Calgary," Nenshi said. "In fact, every single member of city council received more votes than the minister did in his riding in Edmonton.

"So it's difficult, I think, for the people of Calgary to see this person come in and tell their duly elected council what to do."

Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Maduhas been openly critical of council spending in both Calgary and Edmonton, and Madu and Nenshi have traded barbs over provincial funding.

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At the United Conservative Party's annual general meeting, Madu called councillors "spending freaks."

"If Calgary city council wants to blame the budget for their massive tax increases, what was their excuse every other year? The truth is that they have been overspending for more than a decade, and the spending spree must stop," Madu wrote on Facebook on Dec. 1.

Nenshi said he understands that the minister is busy andhe doesn't expect him to be "up on every single fact," but said he plans to continue repeating the city's message that it can't continue to take yearly cuts.

Roundtables

Nenshi said there used to be roundtable meetings between the premier or a representative, the municipal affairs minister, the finance minister, and Calgary and Edmonton mayors.

"It's probably a good idea to resurrect that conversation," he said.

Timothy Gerwing, Madu's press secretary, said in an emailed statement that the minister is always happy to meet with Calgary's mayor to discuss establishing a roundtable or other matters.

"The best thing Calgary city councilcan do right now is get serious about tackling the irresponsible spending and massive tax hikes happening at the City of Calgary," the emailed statement read.

Nenshi said while right now the relationship between city and province may seem stormy, this too shall pass.

He said in the time he's been mayor, he's dealt with six premiers and 11 or 12 municipal affairs ministers.

"Some of them are great and some are less than great, but ultimately Calgary is a resilient place," he said.