It appears that the suite sounds of controversy have begun to bellow in Calgary, a mere four months into Council’s newest term.
At the centre of this recent debate is veteran Alderman, John Mar, and rookie Alderman, Shane Keating.
What started out as an important discussion on the concept of legalizing secondary suites in Calgary has turned into a circus of the small town variety, with Calgarians on both sides of the door arguing, not the logistics of the issue, but the fact that the two Alderman had excused themselves from the vote.
Alderman Mar, who became a proud new father during the debate, had realized that his involvement in the discussion had put him into a conflict of interest. Prior to the birth of his new child, Alderman Mar began the process of building a Nanny suite with an application to rezone his home.
Alderman Shane Keating, who is planning to apply for a secondary suite in the “near future” to accommodate some family members who will be moving into his house, was forced to remove himself from the discussions as well, as, according to both Alderman, ‘by applying for a secondary suite, they, or their immediate families, may benefit as a result of their vote’.
That seems fair and easy enough. Not so apparently.
In a council that heralds only 15 votes, losing 2 votes due to abstention may hurt the proponents of secondary suite legalization in Calgary.
I have only ever conversed with both Alderman via Twitter, but I may be safe to assume that Alderman Mar and Keating are pro secondary suite, being themselves in the process of legalizing theirs.
However, their vote will not count during this debate in Council, bringing the voting pool down to 13 from 15.
So, instead of an 8-7 majority, the secondary suite issue needs a vote 7-6 either way. If there are 7 Alderman who oppose the legalization of secondary suites, then the swing votes of Alderman Mar and Keating could be the difference.
Having involved myself in the ongoing discussion that is taking place on Twitter, I have read the comments like “I wish my Alderman would represent the interests of the ward over his own” and that “the residents of Ward 8 & 12 won’t have a voice if they don’t vote.” The fact is, they are both representing the interests of their ward over their own.
If both Alderman join Council and take part in the next discussion, and vote on it, they would be breaking the law. Not a criminal law but a law that instructs all elected officials in Alberta to remove themselves from any discussion where they, or their family, could benefit directly from the vote.
Likewise, if both Alderman join Council and vote on the issue, their votes could easily be challenged and their swing vote could be negated and end up doing more damage to the secondary suite issue, the City of Calgary and Wards 8 & 12 in the process.
Likewise, if both Alderman join Council and vote on the issue, their votes could easily be challenged and their swing vote could be negated and end up doing more damage to the secondary suite issue, the City of Calgary and Wards 8 & 12 in the process.
To claim that Alderman Mar and Alderman Keating are not representing their wards, the fact that they could be removed from council by voting on an issue that they know could provide a benefit to them tells me otherwise.
To also say that Alderman Mar and Alderman Keating only declared an interest in the issue to avoid voting on the subject is sad.
I tweeted this comment before and I will write it here, I am pretty sure that no one in Council, or anyone who has ever ran for a government seat, has ever done so only to be able to avoid a vote that affects their constituents. Some people really have to grow up.
Calgary Herald - http://bit.ly/i8Fhgy
Alderman Keatin's blog - http://bit.ly/eFyZnu
