Calgary Minute: Issue 340

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

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• Beginning this morning, at 9:30 am, and every day this week at the same time, there will be a City Council meeting. The purpose of these meetings is to debate the budget, which includes $4.6 billion in operating spending, $3.6 billion in capital projects, and a blended (business and residential) 3.6% property tax increase. Average homeowners would see a 5.4% rise, though Mayor Jeromy Farkas says he hopes to cut the increase in half without reducing key services like policing, transit, housing, and infrastructure. Several Councillors are pushing to remove programs they view as unnecessary - such as the Climate Emergency Fund - to redirect money toward higher-priority needs like public safety. Others argue Council should stay focused on major priorities rather than getting lost in budget detail. The debate comes alongside new survey results showing rising satisfaction with City services but a significant drop in perception around value for money, as well as lingering concerns about trust, infrastructure, crime, and affordability.
  
  
• City Council narrowly voted 8-7 to delay a motion that would ban national flag-raisings at City Hall. Ward 13 Councillor Dan McLean brought forward the motion that would have removed permission for flying other countries’ flags, saying the practice has become divisive. Mayor Jeromy Farkas supported debating the motion immediately, warning that delays could create political and legal challenges. Critics, including Councillors Jennifer Wyness and Nathaniel Schmidt, said the urgency was politically motivated and tied to the recent Palestinian flag-raising. Opponents argued that rushing the motion would bypass meaningful public consultation for communities across the city. Mayor Farkas noted that 36 national flags have already been raised this year, contributing to the policy debate. McLean now plans to bring the item to the Executive Committee.
  
  
• After a one-month trial, Calgary Transit has ended its weekend two-car CTrain pilot program, noting unexpected surges in ridership and platform crowding. The trial was designed to reduce costs during lower-demand periods, but passenger feedback showed that even weekend ridership often exceeded the reduced capacity. Weekend, Sunday, and holiday trains have now returned to full three-car service. Transit is also temporarily reducing frequency on about 30 bus routes, including all MAX routes, due to ongoing operator shortages. Officials say the reductions will remain in place until December 22nd, and are intended to maintain reliability and prevent last-minute cancellations while weekly service reviews continue. Transit staff note that higher-than-expected weekend ridership is an encouraging long-term trend for the system, reflecting growing demand for public transit.
  
  
• The Executive Committee has voted 13-2 to advance a motion to repeal the city’s blanket rezoning policy. Councillor Andre Chabot brought forward the motion, which seeks to reverse the 2024 shift that made R-CG zoning the default for most residential areas, allowing more multi-unit housing without individual rezoning applications. Supporters argue that the municipal election demonstrated public opposition to blanket rezoning and that Council must revisit the policy. Opponents warn that a repeal could undermine housing affordability and reverse momentum on increasing the city’s housing supply. City staff confirmed that a repeal would require a full public hearing in March 2026, similar in scale to the record-setting $1.2-million hearing held in 2024. The policy has faced court challenges from residents, though the City has so far prevailed. The policy still needs to be debated by the full Council on December 15th.
  
  
• Speaking of housing, the City is preparing to launch a new incentive program aimed at increasing the number of backyard suites by using $10 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. The City has opened an online survey asking homeowners what kinds of incentives, such as fee reductions or cost offsets, would make them more likely to build a suite. Backyard suites currently see low adoption, with only about 70 built annually, and the City hopes to more than double that number once incentives are introduced. Officials say these suites offer a gentle density option that can expand housing supply without significantly altering neighbourhood character. Builders report that high construction costs, including utility connections, remain the biggest barrier for homeowners considering building these suites. The City plans to gather public feedback through mid-December and launch the final program by March. If successful, the initiative could add hundreds of new rental units in established neighbourhoods.

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