Calgary Minute: Wastewater Leak, Proposed Redevelopment, and the Supervised Consumption Site

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

This Week In Calgary:

• The Infrastructure and Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The agenda includes growth applications for several Area Structure Plans, as well as housekeeping amendments to the Land Use Bylaw.
  
  
• Calgary is launching a new Traffic Safety Team as part of a 12-month pilot program to enhance traffic safety in residential areas, particularly near schools and playgrounds. The team, consisting of eight peace officers and two sergeants, will focus on enforcing speed limits, addressing noisy vehicles, and educating the public about safety guidelines. The team will deploy officers based on traffic incidents and community complaints, and any issues beyond their scope will be referred to Calgary police. The initiative was approved by Council in 2023.
  
  
• Calgary Transit is adjusting its new weekend train-length pilot program after receiving feedback from the first weekend. Initially launched on March 22nd, the program reduced weekend train service to two-car CTrains. However, after observing the demand, the City will return to three-car trains on Saturdays to accommodate busier periods and events. Sundays will still feature two-car trains.

Last Week In Calgary:

• Mayor Jyoti Gondek has urged Premier Danielle Smith to create a joint working group to address the future of the supervised consumption site at the Sheldon Chumir Centre. Gondek emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to address the challenges faced by citizens and criticized the Province for failing to fulfill promises made in 2022 to transition the site’s operations. In response, Alberta’s Addiction Minister, Dan Williams, posted a video offering a recovery-oriented alternative to the site, but insisted that Council must pass a motion before any changes can be made. Gondek argued that the existing site should not be closed without a replacement, and stressed the importance of working collaboratively on a comprehensive care plan for those struggling with addiction.
  
  
• A Public Hearing has been set for April 8th regarding Minto Communities' proposed redevelopment of the former Viscount Bennett High School site, located near Crowchild Trail. The project, which involves demolishing the old school building, aims to build multi-storey condominiums, including three 16-storey towers. However, residents of the Richmond and Knob Hill communities are strongly opposed, citing concerns about excessive densification, traffic, and inadequate green space. They argue the development exceeds the city's recommended density and is not suitable for the site's location. Despite Minto's claim of incorporating community feedback into the proposal, residents feel the consultation process was inadequate and have voiced their dissatisfaction with the project’s potential impacts on their neighbourhood.
  
  
• A wastewater pipe leak in southeast Calgary led to sewage spilling into the Bow River, but the City apparently contained the spill within three hours. Officials detected the leak Friday morning after test results showed high E. coli levels, though concerns had been raised more than a week earlier. Mayor Jyoti Gondek expressed frustration over delayed communication, similar to past incidents, and called for improved transparency. Alberta Health Services confirmed the city's drinking water remains safe, while investigations into the cause of the leak and its impact continue.

-----

Donate:

Common Sense Calgary doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here.

-----

Share:

If you're not in a position to donate, we understand, but if you appreciate our work, you can help by spreading our message. Please email this post to your friends, share it on Facebook or Twitter, and help make sure every Calgarian knows what's really going on at City Hall.