‘There have been no calls’
Eventually, both the city and the team’s ownership were accused of playing politics in the run-up to the fall election.
“I think there were comments made on both sides that didn’t help the negotiations. And, I think, backs got up,” said Coun. Shane Keating on Monday. “What we have to do is remove that: sit together, have a pleasant conversation about realities, benefits to both the city and the organization, benefits to the residents (and) I think you do that in a very non-threatening, non-aggressive manner.”
But amid the conciliatory tone of parts of Monday’s council meeting, some old cleavages were still apparent.
Mayor Naheed Nenshi told councillors that while he supported restarting talks, he was concerned that “CSEC has been saying publicly that the city won’t return their calls.”
“There have been no calls. There hasn’t been a single call to my office since September and I think it’s extremely clear that they’re working with a narrative which is not a great way to start this conversation,” Nenshi said.
“I’m hopeful that the restart on our side will also be a restart on their side and that we can actually have a reasonable conversation without threats and acrimony, but actually sit down and look at what is possible.”
Farrell, the sole councillor to cast a vote against the motion, suggested she wouldn’t be in favour of a deal that came with any additional costs to taxpayers.
“The city wasn’t the one who left the table, it was the Flames organization that walked away from the table,” Farrell said. “And so is there any indication that they ’d be interested in coming back to the table without sweetening of the pot?”
Flames CEO Ken King did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
The new committee is expected to meet in June. The three councillors who will serve on the committee are Davison, Keating and Ward Sutherland.