No plebiscite on blanket rezoning proposal after Calgary council vote

A plebiscite won’t be held on Calgary’s blanket rezoning proposal after the motion was defeated by council Wednesday.

In an 8-6 vote, the motion — which called for the issue to be taken to the people during the 2025 municipal election — failed.

It was originally put forward by Coun. Dan McLean.

“Of course I’m disappointed, I think a lot of Calgarians will be disappointed in this result,” he said. “But, it is what it is. It was a fulsome debate.”

My motion to put blanket upzoning the city on the ballot at next years municipal election failed.
8 people on council seem happy that all voters won’t have a chance to weigh in on this important issue but rest assured your vote on Oct 2025 will still be VERY important. pic.twitter.com/Li98bPSo5S

— Dan McLean (@DanWMcLean) March 14, 2024

Coun. Sonya Sharp voted in support of the motion, and said a plebiscite would give as many Calgarians possible a say.

“This is a big change,” she said. “Now, maybe some of you campaigned on increasing density, but none of us — none of you can admit — that you campaigned on removing the public hearing process from increasing density, and we did not ask for a mandate for that from our voters.”

Many that voted against the motion argued that a plebiscite is a delay tactic and politicking.

“To kick this to a plebiscite in the next election benefits those who want to run on an opposition to changing our communities,” said Coun. Courtney Walcott. “That is a political choice, that is not a choice that helps Calgarians, that is not a choice that builds housing, that is not a choice that helps our affordability, that is not a choice that builds our competitive edge — that is a choice that helps the selfish few.”

READ MORE: Calgary councillor calling for plebiscite on blanket rezoning proposal

During the meeting, council heard that even if a plebiscite was held, a public hearing would still need to take place, and going the plebiscite route would mean throwing away close to a million dollars already spent to advertise and engage people in time for the already planned April 22 public hearing.

Coun. Terry Wong proposed an amendment that would have eliminated the plebiscite and instead move the public hearing from April 22 to June 24.

But, that motion was ultimately defeated 11-3.

Mayor Jyoti Gondek was one of the people who voted against moving to a plebiscite.

“What is a yes or no question going to do for Calgarians that wish to share their experiences with us?” she said. “It’s not going to allow them to answer anything, nevermind that not all Calgarians can actually participate in the plebiscite, and remember that number — 60 people a day or 22,000 a year — some of them are newcomers who are not yet Canadian citizens but, they live here, and they their pay taxes, and they have a right to be heard as well.”

Couns. Walcott, Raj Dhaliwal, Evan Spencer, Kourtney Penner, Jasmine Mian, Richard Pootmans, and Gian Carlo Carra also voted against the motion.