Who got more cash: Edmonton or Calgary? The mayors' faces

15 September 2007

Mandel is livid, Bronconnier pleased as Stelmach hands out funds for citiesGraham Thomson, The Edmonton JournalPublished: 2:06 amTo say Edmonton's mayor rained on the premier's parade Friday afternoon is to say Niagara Falls drips water.Mayor Stephen Mandel opened up a deluge of disappointment and bitter feelings at the premier's news conference where the province announced a funding deal for municipalities.

Premier Ed Stelmach should have brought an umbrella.Mandel is not happy with the deal that will see Edmonton get a total of $2.1 billion over the next 10 years compared with Calgary's $3.3 billion.Mandel's disappointment was evident the moment he sat down at the news conference Friday with Stelmach and representatives of the province's municipalities.While the others, notably Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, praised the deal, Mandel slumped back in his chair with his arms folded and an expression on his face that could stop a train.Mandel was careful to thank Stelmach for keeping his promise to remove strings from the funding and to allow municipalities to borrow money against future funds.But Mandel is angry at the funding formula that he says treats Edmonton unfairly.

And he wondered if maybe he made a mistake by being the nice, quiet guy in negotiations with the province."The past few years, I believe I have had good relations with this government," said Mandel. "I have spent countless hours talking to ministers trying to ensure my citizens were treated fairly. I have to wonder whether I should be a bit more vocal publicly." Well, he's vocal now.Mandel tried his best not to be a total wet blanket, making a point of thanking Stelmach several times during and after the news conference. However, he launched repeatedly into how Edmonton is hurt by a funding formula that fails to recognize the fact the city, unlike Calgary, is part of a region with many bedroom communities putting a strain on Edmonton's resources.
Residents from Sherwood Park, for example, work in Edmonton, drive on Edmonton roads and use Edmonton services -- but they don't contribute to Edmonton's tax base. Under the province's funding formula, Edmonton does not get credit for providing services to thousands of out-of-towners.It would be simplistic to write off Mandel's complaints as municipal-election campaigning. Edmonton has been short-changed in this respect for years.It didn't help that Mandel is fighting a flu bug. He coughed and spluttered his way through the news conference, taking off his glasses to wipe his eyes and at times putting his head in his hands.He looked miserable.Stelmach didn't exactly look delighted, even though he was praised by Bronconnier who called the deal "historic." It was an amazing turnaround from last spring when Bronconnier had slammed Stelmach's provincial budget, calling it "one of the most significant broken promises ever perpetrated on Albertans." Bronconnier's anger with the provincial government was instrumental in helping the Tories lose the Calgary- Elbow byelection to the Liberals in June.On Friday, however, Bronconnier turned to Stelmach and said of the new municipal funding deal: "Yes, you have kept your promise." Stelmach couldn't have, uh, paid Bronconnier for a better endorsement. Not even if he handed over, uh, let's say $3.3 billion over 10 years to the city of Calgary.Not that I'm trying to say Stelmach is crassly trying to buy Calgary's support. You could certainly make an argument that booming Calgary is simply getting what it deserves.Then again, you could also make an argument that Stelmach is trying to do all he can to reverse his dismal approval ratings in Calgary.The government is quick to point out the discrepancies between Edmonton and Calgary are not as bad as Mandel makes out.The Edmonton region, for example, will actually get $3.1 billion over 10 years, almost as much as Calgary. However, Mandel would be just as quick to respond that the city of Edmonton will get just $2.1 billion of that money -- but will have to provide infrastructure and services for people who visit and work here every day from outlying communities."Edmonton's infrastructure needs are every bit as significant of those in Calgary," said Mandel. "But Calgary has the benefit of receiving 90 per cent of its funds for the region. In Edmonton, we get the costs without the funds." This friction between two mayors goes far beyond a mere municipal tug-of-war. It demonstrates that Stelmach might just have entered a political twilight zone where he can do nothing right.

In the spring, Bronconnier was raining on his parade.Now it's Mandel.Forget the umbrella. Stelmach might want to get flippers and a wet suit.
gthomson@thejournal.canwest.com

Source: Edmonton Journal