Some members of the Calgary city council are expressing reservations regarding the proposal to have a city-owned entity similar to Enmax manage the water system in the future. A recent report recommended consolidating oversight of Calgary’s water system into a dedicated department overseen by a chief operating officer.
Council unanimously agreed to work on implementing the panel’s suggestions, with Mayor Jeromy Farkas emphasizing the importance of fully enacting all recommendations without selective implementation. However, Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot criticized the idea of a separate corporation handling water affairs, advocating instead for a single water department within the city.
On the other hand, Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness raised concerns about potential rate increases for residents under an Enmax-like approach and emphasized the need to prioritize repairs and improvements to the Bearspaw main. Meanwhile, Ward 11 Coun. Rob Ward supported the idea of a standalone corporation for better water oversight, pointing out the shortcomings of the current governance model.
City councilor DJ Kelly, who campaigned on running the water system akin to Enmax, highlighted the public’s frustration with the water infrastructure issues. Kelly emphasized the need for a unified approach to managing Calgary’s water system, regardless of the specific model chosen.
Both Kelly and an independent panel suggested that the proposed changes could be implemented without raising water rates for residents. Monica Emelko, a water expert at the University of Waterloo, stressed the importance of heeding expert advice and ensuring adequate funding for maintenance to maintain an efficient water system.