Global reveals developer’s plan to control CGY city council

[MrMastodonFarm]

http://globalnews.ca/news/502394/exc...-city-council/

It is a rare glimpse into some of the backroom politics going on in Calgary, ahead of October’s municipal election.

Global News has obtained a recording of a November meeting hosted by Cal Wenzel, founder of Shane Homes. In the video, Wenzel presents a plan to defeat select members of city council who are perceived to be anti-development.

Wenzel runs through a list of councillors he approves of and says he is supporting with campaign donations including Ward 12 Councillor Shane Keating, Ward 13 Councillor Diane Colley-Urquhart, and Ward 14 Councillor Peter Demong. He also names those he does not support or is unsure of.

Video in link. Great job by Global.

[Regulator75]

Now this is what I call journalism.

Well done.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Pardon my french but #### you Shane Homes. Never buying a home from you #######s.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Pardon my french but #### you Shane Homes. Never buying a home from you #######s.

I don't think this is just Shane homes, all new home developers are in the mix with this. This is despicable on may fronts, but I don't think any laws are being broken by donating to the Alderman's campaigns. If this is legal, then certainly they need to look at serious reforms to how this lobbying system works, because this isn't right.

As tough of a critic as I have been of Mayor Nenshi, I hopes he digs deeper into this, and hangs these crooks out to dry if there is illegal stuff going on.

[KTrain]

The developers aren't to blame here because, from what I understand, they're not doing anything illegal.

It's the Aldermen who are voting because their wallets are fuller that are to blame. They need to be called out about this so voters can make some changes.

[Kavvy]

I said it before, and I will again.

While I might disagree with Nenshi on some issues, when a political figure is hated by one of the largest municipal funding groups there is in a city.... I don't see how that could be anything but a good thing?

Add to it the fact that Calgary has a known urban sprawl problem, and that our developers themselves admitted times are currently good, I am glad we have him in charge.

Lobby groups are one of the most important and most ######ed thing in politics. Way to much influence can occur from a rich minority.

[para transit fellow]

this was posted a few days ago. I was wondering if it would hit the fan

http://albertadiary.ca/2013/04/the-a...t-comment.html

[Finny61]

Sounds like someone was watching House of Cards. Good job Global.

[para transit fellow]

so it appears that Preston Manning's vision of Democracy is a privatisation model? (yes/no/other?)

[Slava]

Originally Posted by pylon

I don't think this is just Shane homes, all new home developers are in the mix with this. This is despicable on may fronts, but I don't think any laws are being broken by donating to the Alderman's campaigns. If this is legal, then certainly they need to look at serious reforms to how this lobbying system works, because this isn't right.

As tough of a critic as I have been of Mayor Nenshi, I hopes he digs deeper into this, and hangs these crooks out to dry if there is illegal stuff going on.

OK, such as what? I get that people don't love the developers (which is a little bit perplexing, because its not like they do absolutely no good), but this is hardly despicable. If any industry thinks that they could be better off by supporting certain candidates, they're going to press for them to be elected. Its common sense.

Frankly, the fact that more people don't get involved and help any candidate is the only despicable thing. Most of these municipal campaigns are run on shoe-string budgets and with very little help from the public. Its easy to get the candidates that they want elected with little input from the majority of the voting public.

[Tyler]

For those of us who knew this was going on for years, but had no proof...

This. Is. Absolutely. Awesome.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Geez that's awful. I am not exactly a Nenshi fan but he smells like roses next to these guys.

They should be using their money to put a development debate ON the table, so people can actually decide if they like Nenshi's plans, not buy their way in a back door.

Brutal.

[Manhattanboy]

I see nothing wrong with this. A group of industry leaders get together and decide which aldermen they consider to be friendly to them and who they will support financially. This is totally tame compared to municipal politics in the US and elsewhere. It is because we do not have a slate or party system at the municipal level in this city (which we need).

Every sitting alderman is constantly in fund raising mode and looks to the development and home building industry for large annual donations.

[1stLand]

I worked for a Land Development Company. Not one based in Calgary.
But generally speaking, this video sounds about right.

Oh the stories I could tell.........

[Chingas]

Any one who is surprised about this at all is Naïve. The whole basis for any election and the result of decisions for the following years is based soley on the support and direction of lobbyists of all descriptions. This is the way democracy worked 100 years ago and how it works today. Very few politicians get into power on merrit alone. Money talks, money influences, and the source of the money puts it to work in their own best interest. Welcome to Life.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Chingas

Any one who is surprised about this at all is Naïve. The whole basis for any election and the result of decisions for the following years is based soley on the support and direction of lobbyists of all descriptions. This is the way democracy worked 100 years ago and how it works today. Very few politicians get into power on merrit alone. Money talks, money influences, and the source of the money puts it to work in there own best interest. Welcome to Life.

I beg to differ on that point.

Money doesn't get you elected. We've seen numerous examples of how those who win often do it with less dollars than their competitors. Nenshi in fact IIRC.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Slava

Frankly, the fact that more people don't get involved and help any candidate is the only despicable thing. Most of these municipal campaigns are run on shoe-string budgets and with very little help from the public. Its easy to get the candidates that they want elected with little input from the majority of the voting public.

So someone in industry offers to double their municipal funds and this is democracy in action for you? Yes, they might run on shoe string budgets, but that is one of the better things about local politicians. People can tune out a lot of the advertising BS and focus more on fact IMHO.

[para transit fellow]

only surprise is that the cloak of deniability has been discarded

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

So someone in industry offers to double their municipal funds and this is democracy in action for you? Yes, they might run on shoe string budgets, but that is one of the better things about local politicians. People can tune out a lot of the advertising BS and focus more on fact IMHO.

It is democracy in action though; I wouldn't cut a cheque to a candidate who would likely not support things I want to see supported? The developers have a vested interest in this have earmarked money as a result. Its a lot of money, but its the same principal.

[Bunk]

Global and Doug Vaessen says it will release the entire video tommorrow.