Alberta’s minister of municipal affairs has scolded a Calgary city councillor for his “unacceptable” decision to share confidential budget documents last month. But a letter from Dan Williams doesn’t outline any consequences Coun. Landon Johnston will face for his actions. Williams wrote a letter shared to social media condemning Johnston’s decision to disclose preliminary budget details last month. “As an elected official, you are entrusted by Calgary residents to exercise the responsibilities of public office with integrity,” Williams wrote on Wednesday. “Your actions are inconsistent with your duties as an elected councillor and were unacceptable.” Johnston claimed responsibility for leaking confidential city budget documents to Global News in early September. Those documents outlined details shared in a closed-door meeting on July 28, including a possible 20.2 per cent property tax increase to accommodate city department funding requests for the upcoming four-year budget. That figure was not approved by council or part of a proposed city budget, but Johnston argued releasing that information would give Calgarians the opportunity to participate in the budget debate. But Williams said being privy to that kind of sensitive information “carries a clear obligation to protect it and comply with the legislative requirements governing closed council discussions.” He added in the letter that “confidentiality is not optional.” “Disregarding it undermines trust among council members and erodes public confidence in municipal governance,” Williams wrote. Williams’ letter also mentioned the province is establishing a “new Councillor Accountability Framework” to “strengthen accountability in municipal governance.” That will included “clear rules” regarding confidentiality and disclosure in closed session, with sanctions possible for those who break the rules, Williams said. But still, his note did not mention any consequences aimed for the Ward 14 representative. In his own response shared to social media, Johnston said he will “always accept the consequences” of informing the public of the budget process, but he doesn’t regret the leak. “Would I have done the same thing if I could go back? 100 per cent,” Johnston wrote.
