Full Breakdown
Calgary Councillor Calls for Provincial Probe into Closed-Door Council Sessions
By Drooid · · How we work
Council Leak Sparks Call for Provincial Review
Ward 14 Councillor Landon Johnston announced that he has leaked confidential preliminary budget documents and is now urging Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs to examine the city’s use of in-camera meetings. In a letter to the minister, Johnston asked for a review of council’s confidentiality provisions and for amendments to the Municipal Government Act that would more clearly limit when “municipal financial and policy” matters may be discussed behind closed doors.
Background: Closed-Door Meetings and the Budget Leak
Johnston says the most frequently invoked justification for closed sessions is “advice from officials,” which he describes as the “most abused access-to-information exception.” He has asked that council records from 2017 onward be examined to assess how often and for how long in-camera meetings are used. Typically, council closes meetings when disclosure could harm a third-party business interest, personal privacy, law-enforcement operations, or involve confidential evaluations.
Data & Statistics on Proposed Tax Increases
The leaked preliminary documents reveal a projected $510 million in funding requests that would require a 20 percent property-tax increase to cover. Council is slated to discuss a pre-budget scenario of a 15 percent property-tax increase for 2027 in an upcoming closed-door session, with final numbers not expected until November.
Official Statements & Responses
Mayor Jeromy Farkas welcomed the push for provincial reforms, stating that confidentiality should be “narrow, justified, and time-limited,” and that independent review is needed when confidentiality is disputed. Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams confirmed receipt of Johnston’s letter and said his office will review it alongside a forthcoming letter from the full council before deciding on any further action. The council itself has also sent a letter to the minister and the provincial privacy commissioner, seeking a response to the leak.
Verbatim Quote
“Investigate my incident to the fullest extent, I’ve got nothing to hide,” — Coun. Landon Johnston, letter from councillor