Alberta NDP leader and former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi has publicly addressed a damning expert report on the city's water infrastructure, firmly stating he was unaware of the high-risk status of a critical water pipe during his time in office.
Nenshi Responds to Infrastructure Report
In a recent radio interview, Nenshi faced pointed questions regarding an expert analysis that heavily criticized Calgary city hall's management of the municipal water system. The report highlighted systemic failures, many of which occurred during Nenshi's tenure as mayor from 2010 to 2021.
The central issue involves a major water transmission pipe, responsible for supplying most of Calgary's water, which was identified as high risk in 2017. When asked directly if he, as mayor, was aware the water system was at a high risk of failing, Nenshi's response was unequivocal.
"I did not," stated Nenshi.
A Breakdown in Communication at City Hall
Nenshi elaborated that critical information about the infrastructure's vulnerability did not filter up to the city's top decision-makers. He expressed surprise, noting he was not even aware of a significant failure of the same pipe that occurred back in January 2004, which left much of northeast Calgary without water.
"That kind of information didn't filter up to the key decision makers," Nenshi explained. He described the 2004 incident as being treated by city administrators as an isolated issue. "It was never anything that came up in our conversations," he added.
Nenshi defended his administration's inquiries, insisting he asked numerous questions about the water system. He framed the problem not as council making wrong decisions, but as council not having the necessary information to make informed choices. He suggested the city's focus had been skewed toward servicing new developments with new pipes, making it "difficult to keep in mind the old stuff."
Political Context and Public Scrutiny
The former mayor, often hailed as a political star by progressive supporters during his decade-long leadership, now faces intense scrutiny. The water main break in the summer of 2024, which triggered a widespread crisis and emergency conservation measures, has brought past infrastructure decisions into sharp focus.
Nenshi, who recently took the helm of the Alberta NDP with the party betting on his popularity to challenge Premier Danielle Smith, finds himself navigating a challenging political narrative. His assertion of being left in the dark contrasts with the image of a hands-on, detail-oriented leader that he cultivated while in office.
The expert report's findings and Nenshi's subsequent denial place a spotlight on internal communication and risk management processes within Calgary's municipal government, raising questions about accountability for critical public infrastructure that spans multiple administrations.
