Summary#

Council approved a direction to City staff under the item “Deferral Request - Open Drug Use Enforcement and Community Court Partnership Report - Notice of Motion EC2025-0856.” Councillor Schmidt moved the motion, which Councillor Atkinson seconded; it carried 15–0. The goal is to have staff prepare a proposed enforcement framework addressing visible illicit drug use in public spaces and its impact on Calgarians.

• City staff must report back to the Community Development Committee by the fourth quarter of 2026.
• The report must include a proposed framework. Council did not adopt an enforcement framework or change enforcement rules in this decision.

What it means for you#

• People in Calgary: The decision does not itself change what conduct is prohibited or how drug use in public spaces is enforced.
• City staff: They must prepare the proposed framework and report back to the committee by the deadline. The motion does not require Council to adopt any later proposal.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

• The motion requires City staff to prepare a report, but gives no cost or staffing estimate.

What is unclear#

• What enforcement measures staff will propose, and which City services or other bodies would be involved.
• Whether the proposal will include public or community input.
• What the proposal might cost, and what steps Council would take after receiving it.

Case for#

• The motion identifies visible illicit drug use in public spaces and its impact on Calgarians as issues for staff to address.
• Asking staff to bring back a proposal gives Council a chance to consider a framework before deciding whether to adopt one.

Case against#

• The motion does not set out what the proposed enforcement framework should contain, so its likely effects cannot yet be assessed.
• It does not specify how people affected by the framework would be involved in preparing it.