Calgary Minute: Police Funding, Suite Rentals, and Walcott Not Running

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

This Week In Calgary:

• Today is Family Day! We hope you’re enjoying a day off. It’s a holiday week, so there are no Council or Committee meetings at City Hall.
  
  
• The City of Calgary is removing over 200 trees along Memorial Drive to facilitate the construction of a $50-million flood barrier aimed at protecting Sunnyside and Hillhurst. While some trees date back to the 1920s and were planted to honour fallen First World War soldiers, officials stress that the project is necessary to enhance flood resiliency. The original plan would have removed up to 900 trees, but adjustments reduced the impact. The 2.4-kilometer barrier, set to be operational by May 2026, will consist of permanent and temporary flood defences. The City has pledged to plant 250 new trees, including Memorial Poplar clones, to offset the loss.
  
  
• A report from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce ranks Calgary as the second most vulnerable Canadian city to US tariffs, with 97% of its exports going to our southern neighbour. Key exports like crude oil, natural gas, and beef make the city highly dependent on stable trade relations. Mayor Jyoti Gondek expressed surprise at the high export percentage, calling it a significant concern.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Councillor Raj Dhaliwal has proposed a policy to prevent homeowners who receive City funding for secondary suites from converting them into short-term rentals. His motion, which passed an Executive Committee review, will go before Council for a vote on February 25th. The City’s secondary suite incentive program offers up to $10,000 for homeowners to build or upgrade suites, with additional funds for accessibility and energy efficiency. Dhaliwal argues that the program was designed to increase long-term housing, not facilitate vacation rentals. If approved, the policy would require applicants to acknowledge the restriction and establish a mechanism for enforcement. This proposal follows Council’s recent tightening of short-term rental regulations, including increased licensing fees and stricter oversight.
  
  
• Councillors Sonya Sharp, Jennifer Wyness, Terry Wong, and Andre Chabot have advocated for increased police funding. The Calgary Police are facing a $28-million shortfall, which is partially blamed on provincial cuts to photo radar. A Notice of Motion calls on the Province to reconsider its restrictions and directs City Administration to explore alternative funding options. The motion also requests a report on speed and traffic calming measures, along with a long-term plan to separate fine revenue from the police budget. The motion will be voted on at a future council meeting.
  
  
• Ward 8 Councillor Courtney Walcott has announced he will not seek re-election in October, stating that politics was never intended to be his career. Elected in 2021, he emphasized his focus on long-term change, citing work on housing policy, anti-racism initiatives, and economic development. Walcott acknowledged ideological divisions on Council and expressed frustration with what he suggested was a lack of genuine collaboration on the part of his colleagues. Walcott is the third first-term Councillor to step down this year, joining Evan Spencer and Jasmine Mian.

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