| City council this week avoided looking at the impact of war with Iraq, but requested a report on the implications of giving $25,000 to a tennis tournament.
At the agenda-setting meeting, council ruled a citizen's request to "call on our federal government to withhold support for war on Iraq" was out of bounds.
Council was asked by David Swann to draft a resolution in opposition to a U.S.-lead attack, similar to ones drafted by numerous American cities.
"The NAC(Nomination and Agenda Committee) committee chose not to do anything with this issue, and that’s as far as the NAC committee wants to go with it today," says Ald. Joe Ceci.
"But it’s really not about tennis. It’s more about what council believes its role is with regard to international issues."
Other than Ceci, no alderman wanted to look at the issue, which could have major financial implications on local government.
According to councillor Ric McIver, the city receives from between $8 million $45 million annually from the federal government. If war breaks out, these funds for affordable housing and infrastructure could be halted.
Tennis Canada will hold a Davis Cup match in Calgary on April 4 to 6.
At city hall, that’s the way the ball bounces. |
