Since the province stepped in on Thursday to force the city to undo its controversial infill policy, Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack has claimed several times that stopping the construction of monstrous infills in the middle of residential blocks would “create chaos” and destroy housing affordability in the city.

There are plenty of reasons for city politicians to object to the provincial government meddling in municipal affairs.

GUNTER: 'Chaos' a stretch – Numbers don't support Andrew Knack's response to province Back to video

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, for instance, has been stronger in his reaction than Knack. And the province imposed far fewer rule changes on Calgary because a new council elected a year ago had already turned back most of the objectionable rules on its own.

Still, Farkas strongly criticized the Alberta government’s intervention, labelling last week’s action regarding infill as “political overreach” and “an illegal intrusion into local democracy.”

Farkas, who is far further to the right than Knack (although it would be hard to be more........

© Edmonton Sun