Where and when does accountability for decision-making set in at City Council? What exactly is the role of a City of Calgary Alderman? Turns out we aren’t the first ones to wonder what exactly is in the job description, according to a blog on calgarypolitics.com, there isn’t one.

We’ve been wondering about the role of Aldermen after watching the Land Use, Planning, and Transportation Committee in action on Wednesday. Secondary Suites was on deck – again - recall that this is the committee that deadlocked over what to do with the report commissioned to examine the issue. The very same report that indicated overwhelming public support, overwhelming evidence to support a blanket bylaw, and clear policy options for secondary suites in Calgary. The whole thing went to a full Council meeting for debate, where none of the policy options were chosen but instead council opted to explore options for giving the issue back to the public for consultation. The shuffling continued this week, when the LPT was presented with three options for consulting Calgarians on secondary suites, and, you guessed it, the committee sent it back to full council again.
 
It is possible that the reality of indecision is setting in; the financial cost of meaningful public consultation as presented yesterday is going to be very high, and recall, that the public has already been consulted via the original report. We know these decisions aren’t easy and that there is a lot to consider, which we’ve commented on in the past but I cannot help but wonder how much more information could be needed to make this decision. 
 
We didn’t agree with council’s decision in April to engage in a public consultation, since we think the evidence to support a blanket bylaw is clear and so is public opinion, but if a full public consultation is the only way that council will be able to make a decision then that path has to be taken with decisiveness. Consult the public and be ready to act on the results, please don’t be surprised when we discover what we’ve all heard in other consultations through the PlanIt process, in the previous consultation around suites, and in the recent election – Calgarians want complete communities, diverse neighbourhoods, and want to end poverty in this city – and we want council to act decisively in making these things happen.
 
We may not always agree with the decisions council makes, we do our best to encourage them to consider the needs of low-income Calgarians in their decision-making and are very appreciative of the thoughtfulness that is given to this vulnerable population but no decision is a disservice to us all. It is a particular disservice to Calgarians who are eagerly awaiting affordable housing solutions, to those who are living in sub-standard or unsafe suites, and to homeowners who are keen to build suites. Calgary has waited long enough - let’s have the tough conversations but let’s also make some decisions to get the issue addressed.