Two city councillors calling for full audit of council expenses
Posted Feb 18, 2020 10:47:10 AM.
Last Updated Feb 18, 2020 10:47:43 AM.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It is being called a crisis of confidence by some members of city council.
Following the controversy over expenses made by Ward 2 Councillor Joe Magliocca, two city councillors are calling for a full audit of all councillor spending.
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Sean Chu and Jeromy Farkas introduced a notice of motion on Monday calling for the audit and will present it at the Feb. 24 council meeting.
@seanchucalgary and I are calling for all of Council (Mayor) to be audited. #yyccc must open the books and act swiftly to restore public trust. We are facing a crisis of confidence. The problem is greater than any single Councillor, and it will require concrete action from all. pic.twitter.com/fVBQlQ6bKz
— Jeromy (Pathfinder) Farkas (@JeromyYYC) February 18, 2020
“We need to bring in reforms to have the expenses work generally, no loosy goosy rules on that,” Farkas said. “Ultimately, it’s going to be up to Calgarian voters in about 18 months to be able to make their voices heard in terms of whether that’s enough.”
Farkas and Chu are calling for an independent person to approve council’s personal spending instead of another member of council.
Right now, Farkas said council members have to have expenses approved by a fellow councillor on the council office committee.
“We need to do everything we can to rebuild the public trust by showing the public that we have nothing to hide,” Chu said. “Personally, I always welcome any kind of review of our budget and the process.”
On the same day, Farkas and Chu will present a separate motion to limit councillor’s travel expenses and to reduce the number of councillors who attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference.
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