Editorial - City Secrecy Needs To End
By Robert Thomas
Transparency and openness were two of the commitments Council made during the last civic election.
Unfortunately here are three seeming oversights and dark corners that are hidden from the general public. Areas where Council needs to shine a light on if they are to be seen as accountable.
How much did the City sell its share of the casino parkade for?
It has been a few months ago now and as a City-owned asset, it is perplexing why the sale price wasn’t announced at the Council meeting where the sale was approved.
After every quarter of the year, for decades now, Council receives two reports- the Departmental Quarterly report (outlining activities and statistical information from each City department) and the Quarterly financial report (providing a summary of financial statistical information for the three month reporting period including tax arrears which in recent years have seen alarming increases.
As well, financial information for the Events Centre is presented).
The Departmental Quarterly reports for October-December 2025 were presented at the last Council meeting of February, 2026 but there was no accompanying Financial Report which is the long-standing norm.Now, at the end of April, they have yet to appear.
With Council voting to approve an 8.05% residential tax increase this year, on top of the 9% increase of last year, it is reasonable for Moose Jaw property owners to be kept informed as to what is happening with the rapidly rising tax arrears situation which in no way will be helped by steep tax increases.
It is information that would be readily available by now, four months into the new fiscal year.
City Council voted to terminate the employment of the City Manager some months ago now because they “wanted to go in a different direction”.
Councillors like to often mention that the City Manager is their only employee so it is more than strange that Council has to fire its only employee without cause because he/she isn’t going the direction elected officials want.
More bafflegab than accountability and transparency.
Furthermore, the taxpayers have yet to be informed of how much this change in direction of a City employee will cost them. Given that the City Manager was about half-way through her contract, best guesses would put that termination cost at around $550,000 -$600,000.
Council should come clean on that cost.
It all leaves residents asking where does the secrecy all end? Why the need for secrecy? How is this accountable and transparent?
It’s something residents need and deserve to know.