Audit committee keeps attachments confidential

Summary#

Audit Committee received Calgary Arts Development Authority’s 2025 annual report and presentation for the City’s records. It also kept five attachments confidential, with a review date of July 16, 2031. City staff say the report was requested to inform the committee about the Authority’s governance, finances, risks, performance and community impact.

  • The committee carried the motion 7–0. Public Member McDonald moved it; no votes against are recorded.
  • Attachments on board governance, auditors’ reports, a management letter, risk factors and a subsidiary risk register were kept confidential under specified provisions of the Access to Information Act.
  • The carried motion did not include the staff recommendation to keep closed-meeting discussions confidential.

What it means for you#

  • Public: The decision does not itself approve arts funding, change arts programs, or make findings about the Authority. It receives the report and presentation for the record.
  • People seeking information: The five named attachments remain confidential until reviewed on or after July 16, 2031. A review date does not guarantee they will then be released.
  • Calgary Arts Development Authority: The report and presentation have been received. The motion does not require further reporting or set a follow-up process.

Money#

No cost information is provided for this committee decision.

  • The material lists audited financial statements as an attachment, but the figures are not included in the supplied text.

What is unclear#

  • Whether the confidential attachments will be released after the 2031 review, or remain confidential.
  • What the financial statements, audit findings and risk materials say; those details are not in the supplied text.
  • The motion does not set out any further review or action by the committee.

Case for#

  • City staff say the report responds to the committee’s request for information on the Authority’s governance, financial reporting, risk management, performance and community impact.
  • Receiving the report for the record lets the committee consider that information without making a decision on the Authority’s programs or funding.

Case against#

  • Keeping five attachments confidential limits public access to information about governance, audit matters and risks until at least the scheduled review.
  • The supplied material does not explain why each attachment needs to stay confidential until 2031. The committee vote was unanimous, and no opposing argument is recorded.

Votes

Audit Committee, item 7.3 (Calgary Arts Development Authority 2025 Annual Report, AC2026-0503): That with respect to Report AC2026-0503, the following be approved, after amendment: That Audit Committee: - Receive this report and presentation for the Corporate Record; and - Keep Attachments 1, 3.1, 3.2, 4, and 5 confidential pursuant to Sections 20 (Disclosure harmful to personal privacy), 29 (Advice from officials) and 30 (Disclosure harmful to economic and other interests of a public body)…

For (100%)