How could the City of Calgary's panel review affect Bob Kerr?
Bob Kerr received a fixed rate payment for consulting on Calgary's water system failure As part of the review into the 2024 failure of the Bearspaw south feeder main, the City of Calgary engaged a panel of independent experts. Bob Kerr was one of the five panellists selected for this review. For his participation in the scope of work, Bob Kerr received a fixed rate payment of $79,600.
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How it reaches Bob Kerr
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The City of Calgary commissioned a comprehensive review of the 2024 failure of the Bearspaw south feeder main, engaging AECOM for engineering consulting services and hiring an independent panel of experts. The total cost for the scope of work was approximately $2.3 million, which included payments to the panel and associated administrative costs. Panel chair Siegfried Kiefer received over $1.75 million, while other panellists, including Bob Kerr and Stephen Stanley, received a fixed rate of $79,600 each.
The full event1independent outlet -
The City of Calgary commissioned a third-party review of its water system following the June 5, 2024, rupture of the Bearspaw South feeder main. Bob Kerr was selected as one of the five panellists who participated in this review, which took nine months to complete. As a panellist, Bob Kerr received a fixed rate of $79,600. This payment was part of the total scope of work, which cost approximately $2.3 million, encompassing payments to the chair and other panel members, administrative support, and engineering consultants from AECOM.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- calgarysun.com Oct 28
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The facts so far
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- The five panellists, including Bob Kerr, received a fixed rate of $79,600 each.calgarysun.com
- The total cost for the scope of work completed by the panel was approximately $2.3 million.calgarysun.com
- The panel was appointed in early 2025 and spent nine months undertaking their review.calgarysun.com
Why it matters
The compensation model for independent reviews is a point of public debate, especially given the high costs associated with assessing major infrastructure failures. The panel's total cost of $2.3 million exceeded its original $2-million budget, leading to public scrutiny regarding the compensation structure.
This review, which found that the city had mismanaged its water utility for the better part of 20 years, led to recommendations for more independent oversight. The city has since established a water utility oversight board, with Stephen Stanley serving as its chair, illustrating the ongoing focus on external governance for Calgary's water services.
What we don't know yet
- Will the City of Calgary implement a new governance solution to manage the compensation model for independent reviews?
- What specific changes will the city make to its water management practices based on the panel's findings?
What would change this answer
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Reporting
- calgarysun.comOct 28
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