Calgary Minute: Issue 335

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

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• It’s Election Day! Polls are open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. In case you missed it, check out our 2025 Municipal Election Survey, revealing where Mayoral and Council candidates stand on key issues like safety, affordability, taxation, and accountability. We have published their unedited responses so voters can make informed choices. Some candidates answered, others declined - but all responses, or lack thereof, offer insight into their priorities.
  
  
• Advance voting in this municipal election saw a significant drop, with just over 96,500 residents casting ballots, representing 10.7% of eligible voters - a decline of about a third compared to 2021. The final day of advance voting, Saturday, October 11th, had the highest turnout with 22,144 ballots cast. Pollster Janet Brown noted voter fatigue from broader political issues and distractions like the ongoing teacher strike and provincial debates. Recent polling shows a tight mayoral race - but over a third of voters remain undecided. Lower turnout and high indecision make each vote more impactful so get out there and vote!
  
  
• The Calgary Firefighters Association is urging the provincial government to impose immediate penalties for drivers caught excessively speeding, particularly along Stoney Trail. Association President Jamie Blayney said firefighters frequently respond to severe crashes caused by stunt driving and see the devastating toll these incidents take on victims and first responders. Under current Alberta law, drivers caught speeding 51 km/h or more over the limit must appear in court, but are allowed to continue driving until their hearing. The Association argues that other provinces already allow police to impound vehicles or suspend licences on the spot in such cases. It is calling on Council and the Province to align Alberta’s rules with national standards, saying that stronger, immediate consequences are needed to deter dangerous driving and protect both the public and emergency personnel.
  
  
• After two years of disruptive construction, the Marda Loop business district is celebrating the completion of major road and streetscape upgrades. The project introduced wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and safer intersections designed to enhance accessibility and attract more visitors. While business owners welcome the improvements, many reported steep revenue losses during the construction period, and several shops were forced to close. Local entrepreneurs say they are eager to rebuild customer traffic and restore the area’s vitality. New businesses, such as restaurants and boutiques, continue to open, demonstrating confidence in Marda Loop’s long-term potential. With the work now largely complete, the Business Improvement Area says merchants are optimistic about a strong recovery heading into the holiday season. 
  
  
• A newly expanded kidney care clinic has opened in Calgary following $2.1 million in donations to the Calgary Health Foundation. The Klassen Bellusci Precision Kidney Clinic, located at the Richmond Road Diagnostic and Treatment Centre, replaces the former Glomerulonephritis Clinic at the Sheldon M. Chumir Health Centre. Named in recognition of longtime donor Carlo Bellusci, the clinic offers multidisciplinary care for autoimmune kidney diseases such as glomerulonephritis. It currently sees about 600 patients annually, with capacity expected to rise to 1,800 visits by 2030. The facility has already recorded a 15 per cent increase in complex referrals since its June opening, serving patients across southern Alberta. The Foundation says the expansion will improve early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of kidney disease, while reflecting the benefits of community donations in strengthening local health infrastructure.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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