If you’re angry about the new $500,000 piece of “public art” on the Trans-Canada Highway coming into Calgary, take note – we as taxpayers have an opportunity to do something about such spending.

Yes, common sense has established a small beachhead on the shores of dysfunction known as city hall.

This past Friday, city councillor Sean Chu tweeted a story about the new $500,000 art installation and asked, “Does this wastefulness burn you too?”

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation responded to him on Twitter by asking “Will you table a motion to suspend public art spending until the economy recovers?” We suggested a drop in the city’s unemployment rate and food bank usage could be used to help determine when Calgary’s economy had recovered.

Make no mistake, the best solution would be for the city to let the private sector take the lead on paying for public art in Calgary – perhaps through corporate sponsorship, individual donations and volunteers working together to make public art. However, in the short-term, convincing council to hold off on public art spending while our economy recovers is a realistic step in the right direction.

Councillor Chu responded to our request by noting that he had “tried that as amendment but didn’t pass, sadly.” Chu was referring to an attempt back in 2015 to halt spending on public art while Calgary’s economy was mired in a recession. When we asked Chu to try again he agreed.

Great! Those of us who are disappointed with council’s decision to continue to spend millions on questionable public art each year – while raising property taxes – don’t have to just sit around and fume. We have a chance to do something about the problem.

Between now and the next council meeting in September, we need to call, email, tweet and send Facebook messages to the mayor and city councillors and convince just seven of them to back Chu’s motion. Fortunately, there are signs that we can make this happen.

Councillors Magliocca and Sutherland have also expressed varying degrees of disappointment with the new piece of public art. Councillor Peter Demong might also support Chu’s pending motion. After all, Demong tabled a similar one back in February 2015, but it was outvoted 9-5.

However, a lot has changed since early 2015. Businesses have shed tens of thousands of jobs and thousands of Calgarians have received pay reductions. It’s very difficult to argue the city should spend millions on public art while food banks have line-ups stretched out the door.

Not to mention, the most recent ‘public art’ exhibit has resulted in a huge backlash. Not only are people disappointed with such luxury spending, many are aghast that the city paid someone from New York City to design it.

If we can mobilize the frustration that’s out there into action, we can convince seven other council members to vote with Chu and put a freeze on public art spending.

So share this story with your frustrated friends – show them there’s hope. With a bit of effort, we can bring some common sense to city hall.

Colin Craig is the Interim Alberta Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation
This column was published by the Calgary Sun on August 8, 2017