STATEMENT: How to fix Calgary’s failing grade on fiscal accountability
Jeromy Farkas:
“Calgary just got a D+ for fiscal accountability. Only four cities in Canada scored worse.
That’s embarrassing for a city that prides itself on leadership and innovation.
Why did we score so low?
Because City Hall makes it hard — sometimes impossible — to follow the money:
Budget numbers are buried or scattered across too many documents.
The City doesn’t fully follow standard public sector accounting rules — making it hard to compare budgets to actual spending.
There's no clear way to see what was promised vs. what was delivered.
Major expenses aren’t shown together — so the big picture is missing.
When things are confusing, it’s easier for waste to go unnoticed.
Just recently, Mayor Gondek claimed that $544,750 meant for mental health "disappeared." The City has delayed critical funding for organizations such as the National accessArts Centre.
Yet somehow, City Council suddenly found $818 million to help pay for a new arena – while Calgary needs to borrow over a billion dollars to ensure clean water and fix broken pipes.
This doesn’t make sense.
Cities like Richmond, Ottawa, and Quebec City are doing it right. And we can too. This means:
Publish budgets on time, before the fiscal year starts
Use clear, consistent accounting rules
In plain words and numbers, show what was planned — and compare that to what actually happened
Put important information front and center, not buried in fine print
As someone who leads a major nonprofit and small business, I know what it means to be accountable.
At the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation, like any other non-profit or business, I have to answer to a board of directors, meet strict financial standards, and earn the trust of donors and taxpayers alike. Every dollar is accounted for — because that’s how it should be.
As Calgary’s next mayor, I’ll fight to bring that same level of transparency:
✅ Use standard public sector accounting rules (PSAS)
✅ Create plain-language and accessible budget summaries for the public
✅ Launch an online tool so Calgarians can see where tax dollars go
✅ Publish a yearly "Citizen Scorecard" to show how we’re keeping our promises
Right now, Calgarians are in the dark. But the good news is that we don’t have to be.
Let’s raise our grade by bringing financial responsibility and transparency back to City Hall.
In the meantime, I’m pushing for transparency now and releasing my donor list throughout the campaign. I welcome the Mayor and other candidates to do the same.”
