While the project asks are similar to the past, there’s a little more definition to what the City of Calgary wants next year from the provincial and federal government budgets.
Pre-budget engagement with other orders of government is underway, and the City of Calgary has prepared its budget recommendations for review at the July 16 Intergovernmental Affairs Meeting.
The Government of Canada will table a budget later this fall, and they have just launched a public consultation. Meanwhile, the Alberta government budget won’t be tabled until Q1 2026.
The City’s pre-budget submission covers off familiar areas: Housing, Transit, Public Safety, and Infrastructure, but has specifically noted the recently approved GamePlan strategy and the Prairie Economic Gateway.
There are nine recommendations for the provincial budget and eight for the federal budget, and the City said it has a goal of presenting projects it believes align with the goals of both orders of government.
“By identifying areas to collaborate with other orders of government and offer opportunities to leverage investment, the City enables more funding to create better outcomes that matter to Calgarians and support the well-being of our city,” read the City admin overview.
Along with GamePlan and Prairie Economic Gateway, the City of Calgary has proposed provincial funding for affordable housing, capital for the Route Ahead plan ($15 million), Family and Community Support Services ($161.5 million), homelessness and addictions ($22 million), the multisport fieldhouse ($127 million), low income transit pass ($20.5 million), and cash through the LGFF to address the City’s $7.73 billion infrastructure gap.
The federal funding asks are similar, with $159 million sought for affordable housing, funding for the North Water Servicing and green retrofit of Village Square Leisure Centre, $127 million for the fieldhouse and support for the GamePlan strategy.
Partners must understand the magnitude of need: Mayor Gondek
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that they have proposed a comprehensive list of areas where they’re seeking strong partnerships.
With the specific asks, she wanted both the province and the feds to understand the magnitude of the projects.
“It just makes things better to have that kind of clarity up front on what we’re looking for in terms of a partnership, not only on what the outcome is that we desire, but what the financial commitment needs to be,” Mayor Gondek told LWC.
The mayor said the projects serve Calgarians but also meet the goals of both governments. She said it was important the sides work together for the same taxpayer, and they’re hoping to show the province and feds the impact on citizens.
“That the tricky part is we’re local, and we are the closest to the people, and we’re the ones that can see what’s happening. We’re the ones that people reach out to on a more regular basis, and we’re the ones that are delivering a lot of tangible services for the other two orders of government,” she said.
“There’s a lot of legislation that they create that is intended to steward some of the things that we do, but the things are not as tangible for them.”
Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner, who chairs the Intergovernmental Affairs committee, said the specific dollar asks are a result of the more refined City of Calgary budget process.
“I think one of the other things we’re recognizing is that giving more concrete numbers to both provincial and federal parties helps them design their budgets better, and so the more information that we can give them, the more we’re able to, I think even have a starting point for a conversation,” she said.
Penner also said that the budget asks demonstrate areas where they believe the federal and provincial governments need to contribute more – particularly in infrastructure, housing, transit and recreation.
The item will be discussed on Wednesday and, upon approval, will be sent to an upcoming meeting of Calgary city council for final debate and approval.
