Calgary Budget Leak: Alberta Minister Sends Second Letter Calling Johnston's Disclosure "Unacceptable"

The second letter

According to LWC, which obtained the letter, Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams has sent a second letter — this one addressed directly to Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston and dated Oct 21 — describing his admitted September leak of confidential council budget documents as "unacceptable." The letter was sent to "address the seriousness of your admitted disclosure of confidential information" delivered to council in a closed session. Williams wrote that elected officials are entrusted by Calgary residents to exercise the office with integrity, and that access to sensitive information comes with a clear obligation to protect it: "Disregarding it undermines trust among council members and erodes public confidence in municipal governance."

Full report

Johnston admitted the leak in early September, saying taxpayers deserved to see how property tax dollars could be spent (The Canadian Press, Sept 8). The leaked documents showed a four-year property-tax revenue scenario of 15%, 12.5%, 9% and 6% increases, plus projected spikes in water rates and waste/recycling fees — numbers confirmed in public preliminary budget documents released in late September.

The first letter is independently verified: Williams wrote to Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas on Oct 19 asking council to review its closed-session practices, stating budget deliberations "should generally occur in public session"; Johnston posted that letter on X on Tuesday, Oct 21. Council voted 12–2 in September to inform Williams and the provincial privacy commissioner about the leak; the city solicitor said Williams's options include ordering a council vote on removing Johnston or exploring criminal breach-of-trust charges. Council deliberates the 2027–2030 budget on Nov 23.