Calgary Minute: Encampment Concerns, Municipal Census, and the Supervised Consumption Site

Calgary Minute: Encampment Concerns, Municipal Census, and the Supervised Consumption Site

Calgary City Hall

 

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

 

This Week In Calgary:

  • There will be a Public Hearing Meeting of Council on Tuesday at 9:30 am to address several land use amendments. The Intergovernmental Affairs Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will hear a Federation of Canadian Municipalities update and an Alberta Municipalities update.

  • Our friends at Project Confederation are hosting “A Conversation With Ted Morton," in Strathmore tomorrow night. Morton will discuss key moments from his career and share insights from his new book, Strong and Free: My Journey in Alberta Politics, highlighting critical turning points in Alberta’s political landscape. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 8th, at 6:00 pm at the Strathmore Legion. While attendance is free, donations are welcome to help cover costs, and RSVPs are required. Guests will also have the chance to purchase copies of Morton's book at the event. Secure your spot by RSVPing here.

  • The A Better Calgary Party, a centre-right municipal party created to contest the 2025 Calgary election, has opened registration for its founding AGM. The party was established after the provincial government passed legislation allowing for municipal political parties in Calgary and Edmonton for the first time, and ABC is aiming to focus on core municipal priorities and essential services. The founding convention is set to take place on October 19th from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, followed by a networking reception. Early-bird tickets are $25 and are available until October 10th on their website.

 


 

Last Week In Calgary:

  • Councillor Dan McLean made an urgent motion for Council to discuss the future of the supervised consumption site in the Beltline, advocating for its closure and a shift in funding towards addiction prevention and treatment services. Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the ultimate decision lies with the provincial government, as health-related matters fall within its jurisdiction. In a letter to the Province, Gondek expressed concern that shutting down the site without viable alternatives could lead to increased drug poisoning deaths and safety issues. McLean's motion is slated for debate in an upcoming council meeting.

  • City workers filled in a tunnel that had been dug into a hillside to create a homeless encampment in southeast Calgary. Discovered by police, the tunnel was about six feet high and featured a fully functioning shelter. Inside, officers found a homemade weapon resembling a taser. While no one has been arrested in connection with the encampment, police deemed the structure unsafe for both its inhabitants and the surrounding community. Speaking of shelter, City officials have reported a significant increase in concerns from Calgarians regarding homeless encampments, with 6,701 service requests logged through 311 as of October 1st, marking a 24% rise compared to the first nine months of 2023 and nearly seven times the amount reported in 2018. Currently, there are between 80 and 250 encampments throughout Calgary, varying from solitary tents to larger group structures.

  • The Executive Committee unanimously supported a report recommending the municipal census be conducted every two years starting in 2027. Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that local data is necessary for effective decision-making regarding city growth and infrastructure investments. Administration has proposed three options for the census, with a contractor-supported model estimated to cost around $10.7 million being the preferred choice. Councilor Terry Wong expressed strong support for reinstating the census, likening it to driving without knowing fuel levels. A full Council vote on the proposal is expected later this month.

 

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  • Common Sense Calgary
    published this page in News 2024-10-06 18:06:46 -0600