Calgary city officials are facing intense scrutiny following the disclosure of massive payments made to an independent review panel . Specifically, the chair of the Bearspaw South Feedermain Third Independent Review Panel received over $1.75 million for nine months of work.
Siegfried Kiefer’s $1,000-per-hour billing cycle
The financial details of the water system review have shocked local leadership. As reported in a memo released on Wednesday, the total cost for the Bearspaw South Feedermain Third Independent Review Panel reached $2.3 million, which exceeded the originally approved budget by more than $300,000 . the bulk of this expenditure was concentrated on a single individual: panel chair Siegfried Kiefer.
According to the report, Kiefer billed the city for more than 1,700 hours of work, earning a rate of just over $1 ,000 per hour.. This stands in stark contrast to the other five members of the panel, who were each paid a fixed fee of $79,600. this massive disparity in compensation has become the central point of contention for those reviewing the city's spending habits.
The "stay out of it" mandate for Calgary City Council
Calgary City Councillors are expressing frustration over how the panel's compensation was negotiated. ward 2 councillor Jennifer Wyness noted that the council was essentially told, "we will do this and stay out of it," a directive that left elected officials disempowered when the final costs were revealed. This lack of involvement meant that the hourly rate for the chair was approved by city offcials rather than through a formal council vote.
The reaction from leadership has been swift and critical. Ward 13 Councillor Dan McLean described the $1.75 million figure as "outrageous," while Jennifer Wyness warned that Calgary residents—many of whom are currently struggling with rising water bills—would not accept such a massive payout for a nine-month engagement. The councillors are now pushing for a shift toward fixed-fee contracts to prevent similar hourly-rate escalations in the future.
A $2.3 million price tag for water system reforms
The high cost of the review follows a period of significant infrastructure instability in Calgary.. The independent panel was commissioned in the wake of a major water pipe burst in June 2024, an event that highlighted vulnerabilities in the city's utility management. the resulting 86-page report provides a roadmap for a fundamental overhaul of how Calgary manages, plans, and oversees its water systems.
While the report warns that similar service disruptions are likely to recur without sweeping reforms, the debate over the cost of the investigation itself has become a distraction. Councillors McLean and Wyness argue that while the reforms are necessary, the process of reaching them must be subject to regular, transparent reporting and strict budgetary controls to ensure taxpayer money is used responsibly.
Who authorized the Bearspaw panel's hourly rates?
Despite the growing demand for transparency, several specific questions remain unanswered. It is currently unclear which specific city officials negotiated and approved the $1,000-per-hour rate for Siegfried Kiefer, or why the $2 million budget set by the previous council was not strictly enforced. Furthermore, the source notes that Kiefer, who is currently in Europe, has declined to comment on the compensation levels.
The lack of clarity regarding the decision-making process has fueled a wider frustration among Calgary residents. As the city grapples with the rising costs of basic services, the question of whether the municipal administration can be trusted to manage large-scale professional service contracts without direct legislative oversight remains a primary concern for the public.
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