Summary#

On June 30, 2026, Calgary City Council approved Terms of Reference for work with Chestermere, Rocky View County and Foothills County. The Terms of Reference set out how the municipalities will develop separate Intermunicipal Collaboration Frameworks; they are not the frameworks themselves. City staff say the goal is to meet provincial requirements and coordinate shared services.

• The approved work covers transportation, water and wastewater, solid waste, emergency services and recreation.
• City staff will lead technical work; intermunicipal committees will guide it; the participating councils will make final decisions.
• The frameworks are to list existing joint agreements and may identify areas for future agreements. Existing service agreements remain in place.
• Council approved the item on the consent agenda, 15 to 0.

What it means for you#

• Calgary residents: No immediate change to municipal services or existing agreements is set out in this decision. The work is intended to improve coordination of services shared across municipal boundaries.
• Calgary and neighbouring municipalities: They can begin developing the three frameworks. The report says the frameworks will address cost-sharing, governance and dispute resolution, but this decision does not itself settle future service or cost-sharing arrangements.
• Taxpayers: The work has one-time funding approved through 2026 budget adjustments. The amount is not stated in the supplied material.

Money#

The work has one-time funding through 2026 budget adjustments, but the supplied material gives no amount.

• City staff expect the ongoing work to be considered in the 2027–2030 business plan and budget process.
• The report says the frameworks will include cost-sharing approaches; it does not give amounts or say how costs will be divided.

What is unclear#

• The three approved Terms of Reference are not included in the supplied material, so their detailed timelines, cost-sharing approaches and dispute processes cannot be checked.
• The report says the frameworks must be completed by November 30, 2027, but does not explain which work, if any, may continue after that deadline.
• The report does not specify what future agreements or service changes the frameworks will lead to.

Case for#

• City staff say the frameworks will clarify roles, responsibilities and cost-sharing for services used across municipal boundaries.
• City staff say approving the Terms of Reference helps Calgary meet the November 30, 2027 provincial deadline.
• The frameworks can bring existing agreements into one inventory while leaving those agreements in place.

Case against#

• The approved Terms of Reference start the work but do not themselves decide future service levels or cost-sharing. Those important details remain to be worked out.
• The report identifies ongoing work, but says it is only expected to be considered in a later budget cycle; the amount and longer-term funding are not specified.