Adam MacVicar
@adammacvicar.bsky.social
Journalist covering City Hall for Global Calgary
Calgary by way of Labrador City
adam.macvicar@globalnews.ca
Calgary by way of Labrador City
adam.macvicar@globalnews.ca
Proposed 2026 Budget document: pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...
pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Proposed 2026 Budget document: pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/filestream.a...
Here's how city administration is paying for the additional spending in public safety, transit, infrastructure and housing in the 2026 budget.
November 10, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Here's how city administration is paying for the additional spending in public safety, transit, infrastructure and housing in the 2026 budget.
City administration says there is $60M in "provincial expenditure pressures" in this budget. This includes $28M due to the removal of photo radar, and $31M for "low-income transit pass, day spaces and outreach."
November 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
City administration says there is $60M in "provincial expenditure pressures" in this budget. This includes $28M due to the removal of photo radar, and $31M for "low-income transit pass, day spaces and outreach."
Calgary city services costs compared to Edmonton and Vancouver.
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Calgary city services costs compared to Edmonton and Vancouver.
Preliminary numbers around the monthly costs of the proposed 2026 property tax increase.
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Preliminary numbers around the monthly costs of the proposed 2026 property tax increase.
Preliminary numbers around the proposed 2026 property tax increase broken down by property type.
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Preliminary numbers around the proposed 2026 property tax increase broken down by property type.
Council is now getting a presentation on the proposed 2026 budget from City of Calgary chief financial officer Les Tochor.
November 10, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Council is now getting a presentation on the proposed 2026 budget from City of Calgary chief financial officer Les Tochor.
Spoke too soon - they're taking a break first and starting budget right after lunch.
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Spoke too soon - they're taking a break first and starting budget right after lunch.
Council is now moving into the the 2026 proposed budget presentation.
November 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Council is now moving into the the 2026 proposed budget presentation.
Original process stands when it comes to public submissions.
November 10, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Original process stands when it comes to public submissions.
Amendment is defeated 0-15.
Johnston also voted against his own amendment.
Johnston also voted against his own amendment.
November 10, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Amendment is defeated 0-15.
Johnston also voted against his own amendment.
Johnston also voted against his own amendment.
Coun. Johnston says people can say what they want in public hearings anyway. He says his concern was some submissions would be redacted unnecessarily. He said council should be privy to ever submission - which it sounds like they are under the current process.
November 10, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Coun. Johnston says people can say what they want in public hearings anyway. He says his concern was some submissions would be redacted unnecessarily. He said council should be privy to ever submission - which it sounds like they are under the current process.
Ward 13 Coun. McLean says people have the freedom to speak and he understands the intent of the amendment. But says admin pre-screening helps speed up the process to protect council from liability.
November 10, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Ward 13 Coun. McLean says people have the freedom to speak and he understands the intent of the amendment. But says admin pre-screening helps speed up the process to protect council from liability.
Ward 5 Coun. Dhaliwal says they're trying to cut down on in-camera meetings and this amendment creates more behind closed door meetings.
November 10, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Ward 5 Coun. Dhaliwal says they're trying to cut down on in-camera meetings and this amendment creates more behind closed door meetings.
Farkas says that when he was a councillor, he would go to clerks/legal team if he found a public submission that shouldn't be redacted and should be allowed to be released publicly.
November 10, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Farkas says that when he was a councillor, he would go to clerks/legal team if he found a public submission that shouldn't be redacted and should be allowed to be released publicly.
Ward 8 Coun. Schmidt asking clarifying questions about the original process and council's ability to see what has been determined defamatory and hate speech. City solicitor says it opens the door to legal liability, but tough to know without any submissions yet.
November 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Ward 8 Coun. Schmidt asking clarifying questions about the original process and council's ability to see what has been determined defamatory and hate speech. City solicitor says it opens the door to legal liability, but tough to know without any submissions yet.
City solicitor outlined her concerns and did have input in the amendment. She says there are liability risks. This motion is purely about the written and audio-visual submissions.
November 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
City solicitor outlined her concerns and did have input in the amendment. She says there are liability risks. This motion is purely about the written and audio-visual submissions.
Johnston says there's always a risk from public speakers, and he wants to remove administration's "safeguard of that speech" and would prefer those written/audio-visual submissions go to council before its determined they include defamation or hate speech.
November 10, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Johnston says there's always a risk from public speakers, and he wants to remove administration's "safeguard of that speech" and would prefer those written/audio-visual submissions go to council before its determined they include defamation or hate speech.
Original motion versus proposed amendment.
November 10, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Original motion versus proposed amendment.
Council is back to the procedure motions - after Ward 14 Coun. Johnston expressed concern about pre-screening written and audio/visual public submissions.
November 10, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Council is back to the procedure motions - after Ward 14 Coun. Johnston expressed concern about pre-screening written and audio/visual public submissions.
City council will now hear about the results from the 2025 fall survey of Calgarians. Here is some background from me on those results:
globalnews.ca/news/1151746...
globalnews.ca/news/1151746...
Calgarians optimistic about city’s future, question value for tax dollars ahead of budget - Calgary | Globalnews.ca
Mayor Jeromy Farkas wants to cut the proposed property tax increase by "at-least half," as new data shows just 42 per cent of Calgarians feel they get good value for their taxes.
globalnews.ca
November 10, 2025 at 5:13 PM
City council will now hear about the results from the 2025 fall survey of Calgarians. Here is some background from me on those results:
globalnews.ca/news/1151746...
globalnews.ca/news/1151746...
This has been postponed while an amendment is drafted.
November 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This has been postponed while an amendment is drafted.
This is the motion that was in front of council when the issue was brought up.
November 10, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This is the motion that was in front of council when the issue was brought up.