Motion to stock bottled water at meetings

Summary#

Calgary City Council adopted Councillor Johnston’s notice of motion on May 26, 2026. It reverses Council’s 2019 direction to stop providing bottled water and directs City staff to stock bottled water in Ward Offices, Council Chambers and Council Committee meeting spaces, effective immediately.

  • City staff must stock those spaces with bottled water.
  • Council also directed Council Services to reverse the previous decision and stock Council Offices and Chambers.
  • The motion passed 8 to 5. Councillors Yule, Clark, Atkinson, Kelly and Schmidt voted against.

What it means for you#

  • Council members and meeting spaces: Bottled water is to be provided in Ward Offices, Council Chambers and committee meeting spaces. The decision does not set quantities or say how often supplies must be replenished.
  • General public: The decision does not directly change public access to water or rules for other City spaces.

Money#

The decision requires City staff to stock bottled water, but no cost estimate is provided.

  • The materials do not state the cost of purchasing, delivering or disposing of the bottles.

What is unclear#

  • The decision does not specify how many bottles to stock, how often to replenish them, or what type to buy.
  • It does not estimate ongoing costs or explain how the City will handle the added single-use bottles.

Case for#

  • The motion’s stated rationale is that bottled water can be used by people with medical conditions, dietary restrictions or sensitivities.
  • The motion also points out that other single-use drinks, such as canned soda and bottled juice, were allowed at meetings while bottled water was not.

Case against#

  • Council had previously directed staff to stop providing bottled water as part of a commitment to reduce waste from single-use items. The new decision reverses that direction.
  • Councillor Clark and Councillor Schmidt proposed an amendment to reaffirm Council’s commitment to reducing single-use items and unnecessary consumption in Council-controlled spaces. Council defeated it.

Votes

Calgary City Council, item 9.4.11 (Notice of Motion - Providing Water Bottles for Council Chambers, EC2026-0393): That with respect to Notice of Motion EC2026-0393, the following be adopted: BE IT RESOLVED that Council services rescind this decision with immediate effect and stock the Council Offices and Chambers with bottled water. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council: - Rescind the following Motion Arising adopted by Council at the 2019, May 27 Combined Meeting of Council: “BE IT RESOLVED that Council,…

For (62%)
Against (38%)

Calgary City Council, item 9.4.11 (Notice of Motion - Providing Water Bottles for Council Chambers, EC2026-0393): That with respect to Notice of Motion EC2026-0393, the following be adopted: NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Council: - Direct Administration to stock the Ward Offices, Council Chambers and Council Committee meeting spaces with bottled water, effective immediately.

For (62%)
Against (38%)

Calgary City Council, item 9.4.11 (Notice of Motion - Providing Water Bottles for Council Chambers, EC2026-0393): That with respect to Notice of Motion EC2026-0393, the following Motion Arising be adopted: That Council: - Affirm its commitment to reducing the use of single-use items and unnecessary consumption within Council-controlled spaces; and

For (38%)
Against (62%)

Calgary City Council, item 9.4.11 (Notice of Motion - Providing Water Bottles for Council Chambers, EC2026-0393): That with respect to Notice of Motion EC2026-0393, the following Motion Arising be adopted: That Council: - Direct Administration to discontinue the provision and stocking of all beverages and snacks, in Ward Offices, Council Chambers, and Council Committee meeting spaces, effective immediately, except bottled water.

For (31%)
Against (69%)

Executive Committee, item 5.2.9 (Notice of Motion - Providing Water Bottles for Council Chambers, EC2026-0393): That the Consent Agenda be approved as follows: 5.1 PROCEDURAL REQUESTS None 5.2 NOTICE(S) OF MOTION 5.2.1 Notice of Motion - Establishing a Fire Protective Services Committee, EC2026-0428 5.2.2 Notice of Motion - Increasing Capacity in the Local Area Plan Program, EC2026-0431 5.2.3 Notice of Motion - Strengthening Support for Community-Based Organizations in Calgary, EC2026-0352 5.2.4 Notice of M…

For (100%)