Content
Skip to Main ContentAccessibility Help
Calgary

BLOG | Smoke 'em if you've got 'em

Sometimes at city hall, our elected officials can catch everyone off guard — it's why we follow along — like on Wednesday during the committee meeting debating proposed changes to the city's smoking bylaw.

Veteran alderman's verbal gaffe entertains big crowd

Scott Dippel · CBC News ·
The view of the packed council chambers from CBC reporter Scott Dippel's perch. He says he hasn't seen the room this packed since the great Shawnee Slopes debate. (Scott Dippel/CBC)

Sometimes at city hall, our elected officials can catch everyone off guard.

It's why we follow along.

CBC's Scott Dippel highlights an interesting exchange during a committee meeting on proposed changes to the city's smoking bylaw. (CBC)

Like on Wednesday during the committee meeting debating proposed changes to the city's smoking bylaw.

It happened in front of packed council chamber.

(To be fair, most of the gallery was there for discussion of the city's arts development strategy.)

Ald Druh Farrell: "I'm not going to support the amendment but I am going to smoke the bylaw....(laughter). Sorry, maybe I was smoking something else." (more laughter)

Ald. John Mar, later in the debate: "I just want to reiterate. We're not going into private property ... unless it's something odd that you're smoking."

Ald. Shane Keating: "Like bylaws." (more laughter)

Mar: "Like bylaws. Only Ald. Farrell smokes bylaws. Ald. [Andre] Chabot to close."

Chabot: "Sorry I can't help but latch onto that one. I smoked for many years. I never contemplated smoking a bylaw." 

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News
Corrections and clarifications|Submit a news tip|

Related Stories