When the Tail Wags the Dog

When the Tail Wags the Dog

Funny, We Had the Money for the Airport Tunnel All  Along

CALGARY, AB  Today’s announcement from Alderman and colleague, Jim Stevenson, is one filled with tremendous and hopeful news that Calgary will revisit the construction of the much-needed airport tunnel.  “I can assure you Alderman Stevenson was relentless and I would like to congratulate him on his fierce determination that has resulted in today’s announcement,” said Joe Connelly, Alderman Ward 6 and Mayoral Candidate.

“I have spent considerable time with Alderman Stevenson on this project because I faced the same dilemma in my Ward with having to find funds buried deep in administration budgets for the West LRT trench at 45 Street and 17 Avenue SW,” commented Connelly.  A trench critical to the safety of Calgarians particularly as the fire station resides on that corner.  Connelly knows first-hand how much work and personal time goes into digging through a massive administrative maze looking for illusive and unallocated funds, with little co-operation from Administration.   “It is a process that is ludicrous and would not be necessary if City Hall had much fewer, yet more meaningful priorities – core priorities that Calgarians deserve – like mobility,” said an adamant Connelly.

Today’s announcement points, however, to a much larger and deeply concerning issue for Connelly. An issue of priorities, and the need to run Calgary in a more business-like fashion.  “With 25 Council priorities, we have tremendous contradiction, a serious lack of focus and we find ourselves building a $25M pedestrian bridge 200 paces from an existing bridge, yet we apparently had no money for a much more critical airport tunnel,” muses Connelly.  This demonstrates the serious misalignment between Council and Administration and begs the question of who exactly is setting the strategic direction and priorities for our city.  Alderman Stevenson having to fight for months to find the funds for this major critical infrastructure buried deep in administration best portrays what happens when the tail wags the dog.

“I believe that the strategic direction of the city is set by Council.  A Council that is elected by the people of Calgary to build a great city for everyone.  A Council that is responsible to ensure the core services Calgarians deserve are delivered, and delivered well,” says Connelly.  He believes that  the leadership of Council demands a strong business background, formal business education, and an intimate working knowledge of City Hall. 

Connelly believes Council should set the priorities of “what” when Calgarians decide what they want their city to be.  “Once the strategic direction is set, Administration is responsible for ensuring efficient and effective implementation of those projects.  That does not mean holding funds in accounts Council knows nothing about, approving bridges we don’t need, and giving Council only one alternative to fund projects when many more exist but are not shared,” states Connelly. 

“As an Alderman, as a Calgarian and as a former Vice President at Tourism Calgary where I was responsible for bringing tourists to town, I have been adamantly in favour of the airport tunnel since the beginning.  Not only for  convenient transportation to and from Calgary’s International Airport, but even more important, the daily impact the Barlow Trail road closure will have on Calgarians who live and/or earn their livelihood in the NE quadrant of our city,” said Connelly.

Connelly’s second platform point is to “Get Calgary Moving Again”.  During Council’s last meeting Alderman Stevenson made one last valiant attempt for the tunnel, however, Administration presented a sole option; take the money from the Canada Olympic Park and Bowfort Road project.  “I could not support this option because of the daily commute of 60,000 Calgarians and the route to and from the Canadian Rocky Mountains which would affect millions of travellers.  Not to mention construction is well underway and is carefully leveraged with already committed provincial and federal funding that would disappear if Calgary pulled its funding,” said Connelly.  Connelly was disappointed that only one non-viable option was presented by Administration when asked for their suggestions.  “After that completely illogical recommendation, I suggested that all of Calgary should contribute to the tunnel by giving up small projects in each Ward.”

Since a resolution was still not forthcoming, Connelly continued to work with Stevenson even though Council has adjourned, and last week suggested that Calgary could have an airport tunnel if the City got out of the business of building neighbourhoods.  “I still believe we should not compete with developers,” said Connelly.  “The obvious project that comes to mind is the complex and not yet proven financial model of building a West Village when the East Village is not even complete.  But there are many other development projects in Calgary that could be used as an example of taxpayer funds being spent on something they will never use.”

“I believe the most important lesson this year, with three major infrastructure projects as examples – fighting hard for a West LRT trench and an airport tunnel, yet having a $25M pedestrian bridge slide under the radar – shows had misaligned Council and Administration truly are”, states Connelly.

“As Mayor, within the first 100 days of office, my priority is simple.  Reduce the priorities.  Get back to building the great city Calgarians deserve and deliver on core services that will get Calgarians moving again.”  And the way Connelly says he will do it is to run the City in a more business-like fashion .  “We have over 14,000 employees – we need to run City Hall just as any business would demand.  With strategic direction, focused priorities, efficient delivery of those priorities, and Calgarians being privy through the whole process,” promises Connelly.

Joe Connelly can be reached directly at 403.612.9233 for comment.