Summary#

Calgary City Council adopted amendments to its existing Ward Boundary Determination and Review Policy (CP2019-04). City staff say the current ward population and elector-count figures do not require boundary changes before the 2029 general election; the policy’s stated purpose is to guide future reviews.

• Council adopted amendments listed in Attachment 2, but that attachment was not included in the supplied material, so their exact wording and effect cannot be verified.
• Council did not change ward boundaries in this decision.
• The policy requires ward population differences to stay within 15% of the average where possible, and not exceed 25%.
• City staff say a boundary review is planned during the 2029 Council term, subject to census data, for possible changes in time for the 2033 election.
• The motion passed 14 to 1. Councillor Pantazopoulos voted against; the supplied material does not state why.

What it means for you#

• Voters: Your ward boundary is not changed by this decision. City staff say current data does not require changes before the 2029 election.
• Future voters: A review is planned during the 2029 Council term, depending on ward-level population data. A review does not itself mean boundaries will change.
• School boards: The City said it would provide the report to the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District because they align two City wards for their school-board boundaries. The decision does not itself change those boundaries.

Money#

City staff report no anticipated financial impact.

• The supplied report gives no cost estimate for the future boundary review.

What is unclear#

• Attachment 2, which contains the adopted policy amendments, was not supplied. The precise changes to the policy therefore cannot be confirmed.
• The report says federal census ward-level data may arrive in late 2027 or early 2028 and civic census data may arrive in the third quarter of 2027. It does not explain what would happen if the data is delayed or a review is needed before the 2029 election.
• The report says the next Ward Boundary Commission will review the policy criteria, but does not provide the timing or process for that review.

Case for#

• City staff say using census counts rather than population estimates is more accurate for assessing whether wards are balanced.
• Staff report that the 2021 federal census population counts and 2025 elector counts are within the policy’s acceptable range, so boundary changes are not required before 2029.
• A future review could consider population balance alongside other factors staff identify, such as keeping community districts together and using clear boundary lines.

Case against#

• The report says Calgary’s population is forecast to grow, while the ward-level federal and civic census data needed for a review may not be available in time to complete one before the 2029 election if one is needed.
• The supplied material does not explain the policy amendments’ exact effects, making it difficult to assess whether they address that timing concern.
• Councillor Pantazopoulos voted against the motion, but the supplied material gives no reason for the vote.