Calgary mayor, Jeremy Farkas, once a reactionary nobody in municipal politics affiliated with the likes of the Wild Rose Party, today a faux-progressive “nice guy” with an affinity for public transit, released another of his candid Instagram reels, where he says: “I’m not going to lie to you, our water pipes are in piss-poor condition,” which is news to absolutely no one who remembers when our Bearspaw South feeder main ruptured twice in 2025 and 2024, causing massive flooding, a Trans-Canada highway collapse, boil water advisories for nearby communities, and months of water use restrictions. “After a ten-year freeze, our water bills need to go up,” he says with a contrite tone. “You deserve to be treated like adults…”
In an 8-2 vote, city council voted to increase water rates by 19% annually, which will lead to an estimated $90 increase by 2030 per average resident.
Commenters on the video remind him that he’s not speaking to children:
“Young people are drowning in what is supposed to be the most affordable city…”
“Said property taxes needed a 15% increase to fix the water pipes. Now it’s our water bills. Why both?”
One user said it best: “I’m so sick of this crap. Where is the multi millions of oil surplus going?”
In a city council which dealt with a corruption investigation by the RCMP last year, known for flagrant spending on unpopular (even scandalous) public art projects, or extensive City Hall renovations, indeed, where is the money going? In Alberta’s financial epicentre, there’s plenty of money being funneled into the pockets of energy executives and real estate magnates, while workers being priced out of their own homes are told condescendingly that “our water bills need to go up…”
– Landry B., Calgary
