Former mayor Naheed Nenshi revealed that he and city council were unaware of the high risk associated with Calgary’s Bearspaw feeder main in 2017, despite repeated recommendations for inspections in 2017, 2019, and 2022, which were delayed. An independent report criticized Calgary’s water governance, highlighting systemic issues dating back decades, and noted that Nenshi only learned about prior risks in 2024. He acknowledged responsibility for not probing deeply enough during his tenure, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith attributed blame to Nenshi for the current crisis, citing his failure to inspect the infrastructure post-2013 floods. Nenshi refuted Smith’s claims, asserting that Calgary has the expertise to manage its water system without provincial intervention.
