Calgary Minute: Peace Officers, Farkas Announces, and Council Approves GamePLAN

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

This Week In Calgary:

• On Tuesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a Public Hearing Meeting of Council to gather feedback on a variety of proposed land use amendments.
  
  
• The Council Services Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes the Proposed 2025 Council Orientation Agenda, Human Resources Recommendations for Council Members and their Staff, and Council Policies and Bylaws Related to Councillor Absences and Departures.
  
  
• Calgary's community peace officers will temporarily operate under the Calgary Police Service's command following a request from the provincial government to municipalities across Alberta to address the fentanyl crisis. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis emphasized the need for coordinated law enforcement to tackle fentanyl distribution and social disorder. Mayor Jyoti Gondek highlighted the City's existing collaboration between police, peace officers, and other outreach teams, particularly in high-risk areas like the downtown core and transit network. The Calgary Police Service confirmed the shift in command under the Safer Calgary initiative, aimed at tackling fentanyl and related crime.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Jeromy Farkas announced his candidacy for Mayor in the 2025 municipal election, marking his second attempt after finishing second in 2021. His campaign emphasizes a vision for the city’s growth, focusing on housing, job creation, public safety, and restoring trust in leadership. Farkas criticized the current Council for being stuck in petty conflicts and believes political parties at the municipal level contribute to dysfunction. He says he’s learned a lot since the last election and understands the importance of taking responsibility for mistakes, focusing on solving problems rather than blaming individuals, and building a strong team. He will compete in the 2025 mayoral race alongside 2021 rivals Jyoti Gondek and Jeff Davison, as well as former police commission chair Brian Thiessen. The municipal election is set for October 20th.
  
  
• As Calgary braces for a potential trade war with the United States, Council heard that the City is in a relatively strong position, with only 5% of contracts and supplies sourced from the US. Efforts are underway to secure alternatives from local or non-American suppliers for products like steel and aluminum. Mayor Jyoti Gondek emphasized the uncertainty of tariffs being imposed but stressed the importance of planning while advocating for strong US - Canada trade relations. The City has already streamlined its bidding process, waiving fees for major projects, to ease business concerns. The Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Calgary Economic Development have noted a growing sense of unease within the local business community, as investment plans are delayed. City officials will begin providing monthly updates on supply chain issues starting in April.
  
  
• City Council has approved "GamePLAN," a strategy to rebuild and revitalize the city's recreational facilities, with a potential cost of up to $6 billion over 25 years. The plan addresses issues such as underinvestment, aging facilities, and rising operational costs, with the goal of improving accessibility and service to the growing population. It includes significant expansions, like increasing swimming lesson availability by 40% and enhancing bookable hours for ice sheets and indoor fields. The strategy also aims to ensure 86% of Calgarians live within five kilometers of an aquatic facility. City Administration will now create an implementation plan and funding strategy.

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