[Zarley]

I don't have a problem with the fundraising event itself - municipal politicians host these dinners all the time. I have a problem with the hypocrisy exhibited by the Mayor and his defence of it as a "wording issue."

Originally Posted by Naheed Nenshi, Calgary Herald, 03 Dec 2009

The changes are indeed so small as to be meaningless. A $5,000 cap on donations is so high as to be no cap at all.

Originally Posted by Naheed Nenshi, Calgary Herald, 31 July 2008

Transparency, fairness and participation are the foundation of clean, effective government, and we can't have these without fixing the current non-system of campaign finance.

Let me be clear: I'm not suggesting that there is a simple quid pro quo in place. To argue, as Ald. Linda Fox-Mellway did in last week's Herald, that she can't be bought for $5,000 or $10,000 (would $20,000 be enough, one wonders? Does she ever have a sale?) is reductionist and absurd.

I'm not saying that just because Intergulf-Cidex donated $18,000 to the mayor's campaign, making them the second-largest of his donors, that the city then bought their entire development in Montreux for affordable housing. Yes, that looks bad, but it was also a good decision.

I am saying that Intergulf-Cidex and, indeed, the entire development industry, have the ear of city council. Their phone calls get answered. They can take a meeting with most council members virtually any time they like. Normal citizens don't get this privilege, and to argue that the privilege is not related to the donations is naive.

Originally Posted by Naheed Nenshi, Calgary Herald, 31 July 2008

We need six changes, and we need them now:

1. Limits on contributions. The amount is up for debate, but $1,000 or $1,500 per donor is a good start.

Daorcey, how does the mayor reconcile the statements above with the decision to hold a fundraising event with a $2,000 minimum donation that would primarily be attended by members of the development and construction industry?