It’s the tale of two bridges. Both are to span Calgary’s Bow River, both to be built with taxpayer money.
But each speaks a different language.
The first speaks a language of the monarchy.
It’s born into the divine rights of kings. Financed by we paupers (the Calgary ratepayers.) The architect selected in secret by some shrouded person, the coronation announced from city hall on high.
The king architect is allowed to hand-pick his local foot soldier, and chooses Stantec over Delcan. Stantec earns $750,000 from the paupers because the king remains in Spain.
The footbridge price climbs to $24.5 million. Graham Infrastructure wins the construction bid, as it’s the only one that says it can do the job for $18 million (Plus GST. Did they not tell you about the GST?) We’ll see.
The second bridge speaks a postmodern language: Part papacy, part Canadian Idol.
Known as St. Patrick’s Crossing, it gives credence to social justice.
This time, it’s through a design competition managed by Calgary Municipal Lands Corporation.
The second bridge will run to St. Patrick’s Island in the downtown’s so-called East Village.
The church’s subjects (that’s us) are paying a $173-million levy for the East Village Revitalization. (Rick McIver and Diane Colley-Urquhart opposed).
Noting the Calatrava outcry, the CMLC rightly holds a design competition and posts all entries on its website. We subjects are invited to comment.
Stantec once again nabs the contract to review all the design entrants.
Under the steely shield of FOIP, the taxpayers have no way of knowing how Stantec was selected or paid.
Three designs remain and there will be open houses. Then the decision-making retreats.
We must await the white smoke from the CMLC as the high priests choose the design winner.
These clerics include the CMLC advisory committee (only one woman there), its management team and CMLC board.
Across the city, citizens will be told the city doesn’t have money for this, or that.
Fellow subject, the city always has money. ($24-million bridges, $3-million Shouldice field artificial turf, race track subsidies…)
Got a cause? You need to find the secret (and a well-sheltered) person at city hall who championed architect Santiago Calatrava. Get them onside. Choose your sole source contractor.
Tell your public no one else will do. It also helps if you have the political savvy of Stantec.
