City fires 3 managers at Calgary Parking Authority following investigation

The general manager of the Calgary Parking Authority as well as two other managers at the city-owned agency no longer work there following an investigation.

The terminations were confirmed by the City of Calgary.

The city's acting general manager of transportation, Doug Morgan, said he could not talk about the circumstances which led to the firings.

"All I can say is that the employees did leave the employment of the parking authority last week, on Friday," said Morgan. 

"We have an acting general manager in place who has a strong team that continues to manage the parking authority's affairs."

He said that Moe Houssaini has been the acting general manager since September and he will stay on in that capacity.

Glen Furtado had held the top job at the CPA since May 2018.

Whistleblower complaint

CBC News has learned that Furtado was suspended from his duties in September.

There was an investigation through the city's whistleblower program and the allegations were described internally as serious.

The names of the other two former CPA managers are not being released by the city. It is not commenting on any connection between their departures and Furtado's dismissal.

When asked why it took several months for the matter to reach a conclusion, Morgan said he could not provide an answer.

"That would be an internal matter that I'm not available to comment on," said Morgan.

However, he was able to confirm that regardless of the reason for the dismissals, the matter is now concluded and that no further departures nor disciplinary actions are coming.

The city had been reluctant to release any information about the issue.

Earlier this week, it refused to confirm Furtado's departure or even say who was replacing him on an interim basis.

City manager weighed in

The firings came soon after city council voted in November to give the city's top bureaucrat additional powers regarding the Calgary Parking Authority.

Those powers granted to city manager David Duckworth included authorizing him to investigate and discipline any non-unionized employees of the parking authority.

No information has been made available by the city regarding any possible severance payments or settlements with the three departed managers.

No timeframe has been set for the search for new leadership for the parking authority but Morgan said they hope a new GM could be in place by next spring.

CBC News requested a comment from Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi but there has been no response.