Calgary Council Backs Unity Motion Ahead of Oct. 19 Vote

CALGARY: City council voted 14-1 on Sept. 22 to approve a motion affirming Calgary’s place as “a vital part of Alberta and Canada,” four weeks before Calgarians and the rest of Alberta vote in a referendum that includes a question on the province’s future in Confederation. That vote is on Oct. 19.

According to CBC News coverage carried by Yahoo News Canada, the motion came from Mayor Jeromy Farkas and passed without debate. Ward 12 Coun. Mike Jamieson was the only member to vote against it. LiveWire Calgary reported that Farkas brought it forward as an urgent notice of motion (item C2026-0902 on the council agenda) and that Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Yule co-sponsored it. LiveWire did not report a vote tally. The exact wording of the motion was not reproduced in either report, and this article has not independently reviewed the agenda text.

Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness moved to end debate and go straight to the vote. That procedural motion passed 12-3, with Couns. Andre Chabot, Landon Johnston and Mike Jamieson opposed, CBC reported.

What the mayor and councillors said

Farkas said Calgary’s place is “at the centre of a strong and united Team Canada,” and that “we need to settle this,” according to CBC. He also told LiveWire: “We have so much at risk when it comes to the separation debate,” and “We’ve seen businesses not choosing Calgary for talent and capital.” CBC reported that he cited University of Calgary analyses estimating that separation could cost Alberta taxpayers up to $170 billion. This article has not independently verified that figure.

Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal said, per CBC: “I’m not going to let anyone make a decision if I stay in Canada or not.” Wyness, quoted by LiveWire, said: “having a temper tantrum and threatening to leave is not a way to resolve it.” CBC reported that Farkas said the motion does not tell Albertans how to vote.

Criticism of council taking a position

The A Better Calgary (ABC) party, which Jamieson ran for in the last municipal election, criticized the move. Party president Marilyn Elliott said, “City hall should represent all Calgarians, not become a platform for taking sides on a provincial political question,” according to CBC. In a statement reported by LiveWire, she said, “Calgarians need their Mayor and Council focused on Calgary.” LiveWire reported the party’s position as being that officials can hold personal beliefs but should be cautious about using their office to advance a position on a divisive issue.

CBC also reported that Edmonton city council unanimously backed a similar stance in July.

What is on the ballot

Elections Alberta says the Oct. 19 referendum has ten questions. Questions 1 to 9 are yes or no. Question 10 asks “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada” and offers two options: remain a province of Canada, or have the Government of Alberta begin the constitutional legal process needed to hold a binding provincial referendum on separation. Elections Alberta states that, under the Order in Council, the result of that question is not binding.

The agency’s deputy chief electoral officer, Dallas Stoesz, said in early September that Alberta had received about 290,000 mail-ballot applications and moved up the application deadline to Sept. 25, CP24 reported. The same report said unofficial results on the separation question will not be available until after midnight because ballots are counted by hand. Voters can find their voting place through the Where to Vote tool on the Elections Alberta website. Voting hours and any remaining advance voting dates were not listed on the referendum page reviewed for this article, so readers should confirm them with Elections Alberta.

Council’s vote carries no legal effect on the referendum itself. It is a statement of position by the city’s elected body, and the 14-1 tally (as reported by CBC) shows near-unanimity on the substance, even as some members and a local party questioned whether council should be taking a side at all.

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