With just under a month left until the Alberta referendum this fall, the mayor of Calgary is pushing for the city to take an official position on its continued membership in Canada. However, the city council is split on whether to get involved in the discussion. Mayor Jeromy Farkas is planning to request his fellow council members to officially support Calgary remaining part of Canada, citing a recent report from the University of Calgary School of Public Policy estimating potential costs of up to $170 billion over five years if Alberta were to separate.
While local mayors and councils are prohibited from fundraising or promoting either side of the referendum, they are allowed to express a stance on the issue. Edmonton’s mayor had already advocated for Alberta to stay in Canada earlier in the year, an approach supported by some Calgary councillors endorsing Farkas’s call for a formal position.
Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Yule affirmed his commitment to staying in Canada during his election campaign and believes that taking a clear stance would have a positive impact on attracting investments to Calgary. Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness expressed her clear support for remaining in Canada, emphasizing the financial implications and potential consequences for future generations.
However, some council members, including Ward 14 Coun. Landon Johnston and Ward 1 Coun. Kim Tyers, believe that the referendum falls outside the council’s jurisdiction and that the focus should be on city matters like upcoming budget discussions rather than taking a formal position. Despite differing opinions, Ward 8 Coun. Nathaniel Schmidt and Ward 9 Coun. Harrison Clark argue that the referendum’s outcome will significantly affect Calgary’s operations and funding, with Clark stressing the importance of clarifying the city’s stance.
The debate on whether the council should officially support Alberta’s continued membership in Canada continues as the referendum date approaches on October 19.