Summary#
Calgary City Council adopted a motion to receive the 2026 Fall Research Results report and attachments for the corporate record. This is an information-receiving decision, not a change to City rules or services. City staff say the research is meant to inform planning and decision-making.
- Council received the report and the final survey report; the motion does not direct City staff to take any specific action.
- The survey was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs by telephone with 2,500 Calgarians from August 4 to 28, 2026. Its reported margin of error for the full sample is ±1.96 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
- The survey found that 77% rated Calgary’s overall quality of life as good, 73% were satisfied with City services and programs, and 56% said they trust The City.
- Traffic and roads were the most-mentioned issue for local leaders to address (36%), followed by crime, safety and policing (23%), and homelessness, poverty and affordable housing (18%).
- The vote was carried 15 to 0.
What it means for you#
- Calgarians: The survey results are available to Council and City staff as information for planning and decisions. This motion does not itself change services, taxes, or how the City makes decisions.
- City Council and staff: They have the report and attachments for the corporate record. Any actions based on the research remain at their discretion.
Money#
No cost information is in the available material.
- The decision only receives the report and attachments; it does not approve funding or require new staff.
What is unclear#
- The motion does not say whether Council or City staff will take any action based on the results, or when they might do so.
- The report says the research may inform decisions, but does not identify specific decisions that will use it.
- The survey reports what respondents said; it does not establish why they hold those views.
Case for#
- City staff say the results give Council and staff information about residents’ views on quality of life, services, trust, taxes and local priorities.
- The survey used a random telephone sample of 2,500 Calgarians and weighted results by age, gender and city quadrant. This gives decision-makers a broad measure of reported public views.
- Receiving the research keeps it available for future planning and decisions without requiring Council to approve a particular policy or action.
Case against#
- The survey identifies concerns that remain important to respondents: 36% named traffic and roads, 23% crime, safety and policing, and 18% homelessness, poverty and affordable housing as issues for local leaders.
- Some measures remained moderate: 56% said they trust The City, and 49% rated value for municipal property taxes as good. The report does not require a response to these results.
- The decision does not set targets, require follow-up, or say how the results will affect future choices.