Calgary Minute: Issue 351

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

📅 This Week In Calgary: 📅

• We’re launching a new series of Pints & Politics events across Calgary, giving residents the chance to meet their City Councillors and have real conversations about City Hall. There will be an event in each ward, and each Councillor will be invited. Attendees are welcome at any event, not just their own ward! The first event will take place in Ward 2 on Thursday February 12th with Councillor Jennifer Wyness, and the second in Ward 13 on March 12th with Councillor Dan McLean. The events run from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. You can register for Thursday’s event here and the March 12th event here. Attendance is free, but please RSVP due to limited capacity.
  
  
• Mayor Jeromy Farkas says he does not rule out the possibility of a future Winter Olympic bid for Calgary, even though most Calgarians voted against hosting the 2026 Games in a 2018 plebiscite. At that time, Farkas opposed the bid due to financial uncertainty, including unclear costs for infrastructure, security, and other expenses, which contributed to an estimated $3-billion deficit. While Calgary avoided hosting the 2026 Olympics, Farkas notes the city’s Olympic legacy facilities, like the Olympic Oval, now need reinvestment, which could strengthen the business case for a future bid. Many Olympic-era amenities have fallen into disrepair, and the University of Calgary is fundraising $65 million to upgrade the Oval with new ice, training, and accessibility features. Farkas emphasizes that any future bid would depend on demonstrating a clear return on investment, addressing infrastructure needs, and leveraging the city’s Olympic legacy. He remains a supporter of the Olympics and is enthusiastic about Calgary athletes competing on the world stage.
  
  
• The Executive Committee narrowly voted down a motion that would have symbolically supported closing the city’s only supervised consumption site at the Sheldon Chumir Health Centre, citing the need for more clarity. The Alberta government plans to replace the site with a treatment program, but details on the new facility remain limited. Supporters of closure, including Ward 14 Councillor Landon Johnston, point to crime and safety concerns around the site, while opponents stress that supervised consumption saves lives and shutting it could increase overdose deaths. Mayor Jeromy Farkas opposed the motion, noting Councillors had not reviewed recent amendments and the motion’s intent - financial, moral, or otherwise - was unclear. Ward 8 Councilor Nathaniel Schmidt emphasized the urgency of addressing the addictions crisis affecting residents and businesses. Past Councils have maintained a neutral stance, noting municipal jurisdiction is limited over health services, which are provincially managed.
  
  
• A new City Administration report warns that repealing Calgary’s citywide rezoning bylaw could put millions in federal housing funding at risk. The bylaw, designed to help meet federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) targets, streamlines approvals and encourages “missing middle” housing, both of which are considered binding commitments under the agreement. Mayor Jeromy Farkas argues funding should focus on housing outcomes rather than specific planning rules, highlighting Calgary’s strong home construction record. Some Councillors and community advocates, however, say the report overstates the risks, calling its language alarmist. CMHC has confirmed it monitors Calgary’s adherence to HAF agreements and could withhold funding if commitments are reversed. Other federal funding streams, including for transit and major infrastructure, might also be affected, though those agreements are not finalized. The Infrastructure and Planning Committee will review the report this week, with a public hearing on the proposed repeal set for March 23rd.
  
  
• In 2025, Calgary led Canada in housing delivery by bringing 27,952 occupancy-ready homes online, more than doubling the city's 10-year average of 13,199. This volume follows three consecutive years of Calgary leading the country in housing starts. Growth was distributed between new communities (57%) and developed areas (43%). The "Home is Here" strategy aims to add 1,000 market and 3,000 non-market homes annually through 2030. In 2025, over 1,800 non-market homes received permit approvals; while this is five times the city's average volume, it represents 60% of the annual target. Additionally, 6,200 secondary suites reached occupancy in 2025, bringing the total registered suites to over 23,500. Five downtown office-to-residential conversions also opened, adding 490 homes. Currently, Calgary's housing starts are outpacing those in Toronto.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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