Calgary Mayor Says Public Meetings on Transit Too Dangerous for Face-to-Face Talks

Calgary's mayor Naheed Nenshi has decided that transit is such a touchy subject that face-to-face talks are too dangerous for the city to hold. Instead, he suggests that future debates on transit take place in the never-ugly digital realm.

The World's Favourite Mayor made the decision after allegations arose that city staff had been verbally and physically assaulted at an open house. According to the Calgary Herald, Nenshi made the announcement at a press conference Wednesday where he alleged a group called "Ready to Engage" were behind the abuse. "Given that there has been a history of bad behaviour on this file, I have personally suggested that all face-to-face engagement on this particular topic be discontinued," Nenshi told reporters, adding that further open houses involving the public would be cancelled. "My staff will not be subject to that kind of abuse." Nenshi said that the city will instead host a virtual town hall on the project to draw criticisms and suggestions from the public without the threat of fisticuffs, but added that he was disappointed that the situation had to escalate to that level. "We need to hear from citizens about what's important to them. But the actions of a few citizens have made it impossible to do that in a traditional face-to-face common." The announcement came a day after the city held a public debate about the southwest transitway—a 22-kilometre transitway that will allow buses to shuttle riders from Calgary to a number of major locations. At the meeting, angry residents accused the city of ignoring the concerns of Calgarians by going forward with the project. The displeasure of some residents regarding the plan has been well-documented. Last October, a female city employee was yelled at, grabbed, and had her clothes pulled at by someone protesting the transitway. The project, which will cost a total of $40 million provincial and municipal dollars, has received criticism from Ready to Engage for allegedly being a waste of money. Contrary to remarks from Nenshi and the city, Ready to Engage spokesperson Rick Donkers told the Herald that his group was not responsible for the cancellation of further open houses and that the move is merely an excuse to quash free speech. "This wasn't about Ready to Engage doing anything," he said. "This is about the city trying to intimidate citizens who are merely doing their democratic right to ask the right questions about spending." Follow Jake Kivanc on Twitter.