City Hall leaders say the consultant drafting the report on the catastrophic failure of the Bowness water feeder line needs two more months before the findings can be shared with Council, but can't say why there is a delay.

Council barely blinks, but the mayor asks a few blunt questions that go unanswered. General Manager of Infrastructure Services, Michael Thompson, says he had no good reason, just that they need more time.

The Alberta government has backtracked on funding cuts to the low-income transit pass in the province’s two biggest cities.

According to information provided by the Alberta government, they will backstop the funding commitments they’ve made to both cities. In Calgary, that amount is $6.2 million.

On Tuesday, both of Alberta’s big city mayors spoke out about the funding cut, with Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek saying that it was a “cruel” decision by the province. Calgary city council, after discussing the item behind closed doors, unanimously approved a plan to urge the province to reduce its requisition of the education portion of the property tax and ask them to pay the full amount of property tax on provincially owned properties in the city, up to the $6.2 million.

Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jason Nixon spoke with media via Zoom on Wednesday afternoon. He said they’ve always wanted to ensure the low-income transit pass programs continue.

“The province does not want to see the low-income transit program in our two largest cities go anywhere, and we will make sure that we’re there to support if that’s what’s needed to be able to have it continue,” Nixon said.

He said that after conversations with both cities he recognized that cities needed further support to continue the programs.

Calgary could have to fully fund the Low Income Transit Pass (LITP) moving forward, as the Alberta government has pulled their contribution to the affordability measure.

“I don’t think there’s any way to explain this other than saying it’s just cruel. This is an absolute cruelty to low-income Calgarians who absolutely need this funding to be able to get through their lives,” she said, noting that it’s another example of the province offloading costs to municipalities.

“They’re expecting us to find the money somewhere to make this whole, and you also know what that means – that impacts your property taxes.”

The mayor said Calgary already foots 83 per cent of the $38 million – or $31.8 million.