Dave Bronconnier

Dave Bronconnier – Mayor, City of Calgary
Influential Icon: Urban legend

A liberal that wins elections in Calgary may seem as a mythical beast along the lines of Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster.

But even Dave Bronconnier’s most bitter enemies will concede Calgary’s mayor is no urban legend when it comes to getting results, either at the ballot box or along the corridors of power in Edmonton and Ottawa. The three-term alderman won the centre chair on Calgary’s city council in 2001 by less than 4,000 votes, despite predecessor Al Duerr’s and the Calgary Herald’s endorsements for his chief opponent. Since that acrimonious campaign, however, Bronconnier has consolidated his position with his tough-minded lobbying of both the federal and provincial governments. The public criticism has won him plaudits in the media even though his pointed criticisms of the province’s $3.5-billion budget surplus enraged Calgary’s Tory MLAs, for which Bronconnier offered a muted apology. But his Grit connections have proved valuable in twisting arms in Ottawa. In an initiative approved by city council in April, Bronconnier created the Community Investment Fund (CIF) which will invest the city’s annual $19-million GST rebate into infrastructure for each of the next five years.

Q: Recent efforts to lobby provincial and federal governments on the issue of infrastructure funding for urban municipalities has left cities looking for new ways of raising dollars. What do you think of the idea of a municipal sales tax?

A: I don’t think much of it. We don’t need to introduce further taxation. In this province, we are fortunate with provincial government revenues looking rosier by the day. What we really need to do is have a thoughtful discussion in and around revenue sharing now that the provincial government has virtually eliminated its debt and has $15 billion in its savings accounts. We must also continue to press the federal government to share the federal fuel tax. But do we need a municipal sales tax? No.

Q: Which of these best describes you: Dreamer, Decision-Maker or Doer?

A: In this business, you dream big, you make decisions and try to implement them. If I have to pick one, I’m a decision-maker. I try to consult widely, consider carefully and act decisively.

Q: What one situation do you wish you could have the chance to face again and how would you respond differently?

A: In my earlier days on city council as an alderman, I may have started sooner in pushing more people to get in the game of building infrastructure.

Q: What keeps you sane?

A: Four kids, a wife who’s a saint and I try to do some running every now and then. My family keeps me sane, grounded, humble and normal.

Q: What is the best thing about living in Alberta? What’s the most frustrating thing?

A: The best thing about living in Alberta is everything. The quality of life that we have is second to none. I can’t think of anywhere else I would rather live in the world. The most frustrating thing is absolutely nothing.

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