Calgary Minute: Misinformation Concerns, RV Motion, and Energy Upgrade Extension
Calgary Minute: Misinformation Concerns, RV Motion, and Energy Upgrade Extension
Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics
This Week In Calgary:
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There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will discuss the Residential Clean Energy Program. (More on that below!). Councillor Andre Chabot will bring forward a Notice of Motion to address the challenges faced by individuals living in RVs in Calgary. He is urging the City to identify a safe, serviced, City-owned site for off-street RV accommodation and present a scoping report by June. Recall that this follows the eviction of nine RVs from Moraine Road NE last month. Chabot’s plan includes rezoning, public consultations, and exploring cost-recovery measures, while also seeking a third-party operator for the site. Councillor Gian-Carlo Carra will also bring forward a Notice of Motion, this one to expand the City’s GamePLAN strategic initiative to include a program supporting third-party development and operation of public recreation facilities.
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The Calgary Planning Commission will meet on Thursday at 1:00 pm to discuss several land use amendments. Impacted neighbourhoods include Haysboro, Inglewood, and Mission, among others.
- Calgary is considering a bylaw to exempt non-profit housing providers from property taxes on units rented at below-market rates, starting in 2026. The proposal stems from the City’s housing strategy and aligns with recent provincial legislation. If approved, the bylaw would reduce operating costs for non-profits, enabling them to invest in property upgrades and potentially expand affordable housing options. These exemptions could shift the tax burden to other properties.
Last Week In Calgary:
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Council is considering a $30 million increase in borrowing to extend the Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP) for two more years and expand its eligibility to commercial properties. The program helps property owners finance energy-efficient upgrade. Without the amendments, it would end once its initial $15 million budget is exhausted. Since its launch in 2023, CEIP has funded over $9.3 million in green renovations. If approved, the amendments will proceed to a Public Hearing in April.
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City Council narrowly defeated a motion to freeze its 2025 pay increase, resulting in a 3.07% salary raise for members. Proponents of the freeze, including Ward 5 Councillor Raj Dhaliwal, argued it would demonstrate solidarity with residents facing financial hardships. Opponents contended that Council pay is already determined by a citizen committee using Alberta’s average weekly earnings, making political involvement unnecessary. The raise brings the Mayor’s salary to $220,298 and Councillors' pay to $124,462, marking the fourth consecutive year of increases.
- Councillor Courtney Walcott has proposed an external review to assess the impact of misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation on Calgary's Council decisions and City operations. He highlighted two instances from 2024, including Council's upzoning decision and the failed Glenmore Landing redevelopment, where “false information” spread in public forums. Walcott emphasized that the review would focus on past events, not real-time fact-checking. He also noted that misinformation has influenced public discourse, and even City Councillors have cited incorrect information despite it being disproven. The motion will be presented to Council in March for consideration.
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