Summary#

On September 29, 2026, Calgary Council approved, as amended, directions about access to confidential material for the 2027–2030 budget process. The decision does not set the budget; it says who may receive confidential meeting discussions and documents, and under what limits.

• Council received the confidential cover report and distributions 1–7 for information and discussion.
• The confidential cover report and distribution 7 must remain confidential, with that direction to be reviewed no later than December 31, 2026. Closed Meeting discussions and distributions 2–6 must also remain confidential under a separate direction, to be reviewed by that date.
• Despite those confidentiality directions, the material may be released to Business Planning – Finance, and shared with City staff and the Calgary Police Service only where required for budget-process next steps.
• Councillor and Mayor’s Office staff may receive the material to provide advice and research to Council members. They are subject to the same confidentiality obligations as members.

What it means for you#

• Council members and their staff: Members’ staff and the Mayor’s Office may use the confidential material for advice and research. The decision does not make it public.
• City staff and Calgary Police Service: They may receive the material only where required to support next steps in the budget process.
• Public: The decision does not state what the 2027–2030 budget will contain or change. The confidential material is not released to the public by this decision.

Money#

No cost information is in the available material.

• The decision does not approve budget amounts or state a cost for providing staff access.

What is unclear#

• The confidential reports and distributions are not included, so their contents and the budget issues discussed cannot be assessed.
• The decision does not specify which City staff or Calgary Police Service personnel may receive the material, or how access will be controlled.
• It does not explain what will happen after the confidentiality directions are reviewed by December 31, 2026.

Case for#

• The decision allows designated staff to provide advice and research to Council members while keeping them bound by the same confidentiality obligations as members.
• It allows Business Planning – Finance, City staff and the Calgary Police Service to use the material where needed for budget-process next steps.

Case against#

• Councillors Tyers, Chabot and McLean voted against the final motion; the minutes do not give their reasons.
• Councillors Atkinson, Chabot and Schmidt voted against the amendment allowing councillor and Mayor’s Office staff to access the material; the minutes do not give their reasons.
• One concern is that the decision allows confidential information to be shared with additional staff, while the record does not spell out how access will be limited or monitored.