Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs has requested a slew of documents related to the Bearspaw feeder main break, including records going back two decades.
Minister Dan Williams posted to social media on Wednesday a letter to Calgary city council exercising of Section 577 of the Municipal Government Act to direct the city, including administration, to provide his office with “all information and documentation related to general watermain [sic] infrastructure asset management practices, with a focus on those that could potentially impact the Bearspaw South Feeder Main.”
Those documents could include all documents, information and statistics related to the recent independent review, council and committee records, infrastructure reports, budget documents, media reports, system design, operations, delivery model considerations, risk management policies, feeder main technology, installation, monitoring and rehabilitation or maintenance plans.
“This information is requested to support the Government of Alberta’s understanding of the factors leading to this situation,” Minister Williams’ letter read.
“Accountability and sustainability of the delivery of utilities in Alberta’s municipalities will be a key priority for the Government of Alberta going forward.”
Williams said he appreciates the efforts of city crews, emergency responders and utility workers who have dedicated time on the Bearspaw South feeder main fix.
“I understand repairs are ongoing and the city aims to restore water service as soon as possible; however, I am concerned about implications for the capacity of municipal services and the confidence that Calgarians may have in the city’s ability to sustain this essential service,” Williams’ letter read.
He said that he recognizes the City of Calgary has taken several “commendable steps” to review the circumstances of the 2024 rupture.
“However, I believe residents of Calgary and neighbouring municipalities that depend on the city for water services, have valid concerns that such an incident may recur,” he wrote.
Mayor Farkas welcomes provincial engagement
During Wednesday’s media conference, where city officials said that the Bearspaw South feeder main could be brought back online and water restrictions eased by the end of the week, Mayor Jeromy Farkas welcomed provincial involvement.
He thanked Premier Danielle Smith, along with several ministers, including Dan Williams, for their involvement in Calgary’s water main situation. He expected the formal request of document to come, and said it makes sense to provide as much information as possible to the public.
“We need to provide the assurances that we have looked at every single possibility, every single contingency,” he said.
“This regular release of information is really instrumental to building public confidence in our response, not just for the short term and the emergency response, but also in the long term as we implement those needed reforms.”
In a Jan. 3 news conference, Mayor Farkas responded to questions about Premier Danielle Smith suggesting perhaps the province have more oversight on Calgary’s water system. At that time, he again welcomed provincial engagement.
“So again, very much welcome the conversation about how the provincial government could lean in with greater resources and infrastructure funding,” he said.
“If greater funding came to municipalities, we’d expect there’d be a greater accountability for those funds, so that they know how the money is being spent.”
Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot, in an interview about the cost of the water infrastructure, referenced the recent significant reduction in provincial resources dedicated to maintaining municipal infrastructure.
He said it’s a problem that’s been decades in the making – perhaps even as far back as 50 years ago.
“Ultimately, there’s been a lot of revenue that’s been generated over that timeframe, and a lot of growth that’s occurred to the city to which the province has benefited significantly on,” he said.
“We need to have better share of some of that amount that we’ve been given to the province to meet our infrastructure deficit. I’m sorry, I know it sounds like crying wolf, because we need their help because of our failure. Well, it’s a failure that started 50 years ago from a decision that was made by previous councils. It’s not something that this council or the last council made. It’s a decision that was made many, many years ago, and this council is one that’s left holding the bag.”
