Calgary Minute: Issue 317

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

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• The Executive Committee will meet on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will hear an update on the Green Line. A report notes that the City has made significant progress on Phase 1 of the project. With $6.25 billion in funding now confirmed by both the federal and provincial governments, the City is moving forward with constructing the Southeast (SE) Segment from Shepard to the Event Centre/Grand Central Station, while advancing design and planning for the Downtown Segment. Construction on the SE Segment is set to begin at the end of Q2 2025, with five projects scheduled this year and most work occurring between 2026 and 2031. Utility relocation in the downtown area has resumed to prepare for future construction and avoid delays. A joint governance committee between the City and Province has been established to oversee delivery, with monthly meetings underway. The report also says that there are potential cost uncertainties due to market pricing, scope changes, and supply chain pressures. Let us translate - this thing is going to go way over even the new new new new budget.
  
  
• A Notice of Motion from Councillors Sharp, McLean, Chabot, and Wong will be brought forward, calling for a clearer delineation of government responsibilities to address the municipal fiscal gap. The motion notes that the City of Calgary currently spends around $135.2 million annually on services that fall under provincial or federal jurisdiction, such as healthcare, education, and income support. The motion argues that this misalignment diverts focus and resources from the City’s core responsibilities like land use, infrastructure, utilities, and community services. It directs Administration to produce and publish a chart outlining which order of government is responsible for major policy areas, including infrastructure, housing, and social services, by July 4th, 2025. If passed, beginning in Q4 2025, all City reports would include a jurisdictional label identifying if the matter is a core, shared, or non-municipal responsibility. Additionally, all future budget documents would include a breakdown of reports by responsibility category to improve transparency and accountability.
  
  
• Another Notice of Motion, being brought forward by Councillors Dhaliwal and Wyness, calls for prioritizing tree equity in Calgary’s implementation of the federal 2 Billion Trees program. The City has secured nearly $61 million in funding to plant 930,000 trees by 2029, aiming to boost the urban tree canopy from 8% in 2022 to 9% by 2026 and 16% by 2060. However, the Motion notes that Calgary is currently off-track due to funding shortfalls, aging trees, weather damage, and urban development. Significant disparities in tree coverage exist between communities, especially in areas with limited green space, minimal past planting, or physical barriers like large paved surfaces. The Motion directs Administration to prioritize underserved neighbourhoods in its planting plans and to create community-specific targets. It also calls for annual implementation plans and public reports tracking progress, challenges, and the equity of tree distribution.
  
  
• The Calgary Police Commission is hiring an independent consultant to review the workplace culture of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) following years of internal surveys showing low morale and ongoing concerns about harassment. This review, set to begin in November 2025 and last about 17 weeks, aims to evaluate CPS’s culture and governance with a focus on transparency and collaboration among the commission, CPS leadership, and the police union. Despite previous assessments, the commission acknowledges that issues like discrimination, bullying, and harassment persist, as reflected in recent employee surveys. The initiative has been welcomed by local experts who see it as a necessary step to address long-standing workplace problems. The review process has been delayed due to procurement complexities but is expected to proceed swiftly now. The hiring of a new permanent police chief is proceeding independently of the review. The CPS emphasizes its commitment to fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment as part of this effort.
  
  
• City Administration is proposing a new multi-faceted hail resilience program focused on long-term community preparedness rather than offering rebates to homeowners affected by the 2024 hailstorm. The program includes creating a Hail Resilience Improvement Network to coordinate resources, investing in hail exposure mapping, and conducting an equity impact study to understand the socioeconomic effects of repeated hail damage. The previous rooftop rebate program, which was discontinued in 2022 due to funding limits, will not be reinstated because providing rebates for even a portion of damaged homes would cost the City around $40 million. Some Councillors, especially from hail-prone northeast wards, argue for financial support for homeowners now, highlighting insurance difficulties and the affordability crisis. The City plans to seek provincial and federal support for larger funding programs, as local resources are insufficient for the scale of the problem. Mayor Jyoti Gondek would advocate for provincial grants and policy changes to include hail protection in existing energy improvement financing programs.
  
  
• Calgary has updated its emergency management plan to clarify the role of City Councillors during local emergencies, following concerns about their involvement in the 2024 water main break. Councillors are now expected to act as communicators by delivering approved messages to residents, leveraging community networks, and sharing relevant issues with the Emergency Management Agency. The plan emphasizes a clear division between political roles and operational emergency response, limiting Councillors' direct involvement in emergency site activities unless specifically requested. The Mayor holds additional responsibilities, including media representation and participation in emergency decision-making groups that can declare or end states of local emergency. A new disaster consultation group may be convened for political and financial guidance during emergencies, involving the mayor and relevant councillors. The updated plan aims to ensure a coordinated, efficient emergency response while maintaining transparent communication with constituents.
  
  
• Council is considering amendments to its public behaviour bylaw that would prohibit the visible display of weapons or noxious substances like bear spray in public spaces. The proposal, endorsed by the Community Development Committee, aims to address rising concerns over public safety following a spike in bear spray-related assaults and robberies. The changes would allow police and bylaw officers to intervene in situations where weapons are brandished in a threatening manner, even if no criminal offence is technically committed. The bylaw would exempt approved events and religious practices, such as the wearing of a kirpan by Sikhs. Violators could face a $250 fine if the amendment is passed. Calgary Police support the move, citing persistent misuse of bear spray in street assaults and commercial robberies, which impacts both public safety and business operations. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The G7 summit is underway, and while it’s a high-profile international event, it also means major disruptions right here at home.

Expect traffic delays - especially around the airport - as well as an increased police presence and potential protests throughout the city.

You can stay up to date with road closures and transit changes at the link below:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!