Former finance minister calls for inquiry into city councillor’s expenses

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The controversy over Joe Magliocca’s expenses has caught the eye of a local MLA who is now wondering why the province isn’t stepping in.

Calgary-Buffalo MLA Joe Ceci, who served as the NDP’s Finance Minister, has sent a letter to Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu, calling for an inquiry into the spending of the Ward two councillor.

“This minister has been repeatedly saying that Calgary needs to spend its money more wisely and show fiscal restraint,” said Ceci. “I think it’s particularly telling that this minister has been silent so far with regard to the unwise spending.”

The Minister @KayceeMaduYEG has scolded city councils for misusing dollars. Surely, he agrees with me that @joemagliocca 's behaviour is among the worst we ever seen at the municipal level? 2/2 #ableg #yyccc

— Joe Ceci (@joececiyyc) February 8, 2020

Ceci said the province was quick to act on potential financial mismanagement by the Calgary Board of Education, so Magliocca’s spending deserves the same swift action.

“The fact that he expensed alcohol and said he had meetings with people who have disavowed meeting with him and having dinners with him raises serious questions.”

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Magliocca has apologized for expensing around $6,400 at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in Quebec City last year.

That amount was reportedly twice as much as other councillors on that trip.