Council to study staff training plan

Summary#

Council Services Committee carried a motion recommending that Council receive a report on training and onboarding for staff of Calgary’s councillors. The recommendation is not yet Council’s decision, and it does not create a new training requirement or program.

  • City staff report on current and planned learning opportunities, following a review requested by Council.
  • The City Clerk’s Office, Chief Administrator’s Office and Human Resources coordinate learning opportunities.
  • The report says councillors’ ward budgets already allow spending on courses and seminars for employee education.

What it means for you#

  • Council members’ staff: The report describes learning opportunities they can access, including City employee resources and training tailored to their roles. It does not require staff to attend training.
  • Calgarians: The committee’s recommendation does not directly change City services or residents’ rights. Council still has to decide whether to receive the report.

Money#

The report says there is no anticipated financial impact.

  • It gives no cost estimate for existing or planned learning opportunities.

What is unclear#

  • Council has not yet made the decision recommended by the committee.
  • The report does not set required training topics, frequency, attendance rules or a budget.
  • It does not say which improvements will be made in response to feedback.

Case for#

  • City staff say the review considered the content and delivery of learning opportunities and included input from councillors and their staff.
  • City staff say feedback will help shape learning opportunities during this Council term and onboarding for staff in the next term.

Case against#

  • The committee’s recommendation is only to have Council receive the report. It does not require specific training, including on conflict management, psychological safety or anti-racism—the topics named in the Ward Boundary Commission’s recommendation.
  • The report does not specify what training changes will follow from the review or how their effects will be assessed.

Votes

Council Services Committee, item 7.2 (Reporting Back on Ward Boundary Commission's Recommendations, CSC2026-0109): That with respect to Report CSC2026-0109, the following be approved: That Council Services Committee recommend that Council receive this Report for the Corporate Record.

For (100%)