‘Calgary’s voice is being heard in Ottawa’: Mayor says after meeting with PM

The first few days of the Calgary Stampede were filled with pancakes, rodeos, midway rides, and a lot of meetings between politicians of all stripes.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek had such an agenda, sitting down with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson on Friday and Saturday.

In a Monday media availability, the mayor says she championed the city’s role in building a stronger Canadian economy, focusing on shared priorities including Prairie Economic Gateway as the nation’s strongest inland port, interprovincial trade, energy sovereignty, and Calgary’s role as the economic engine of Canada.

“Prime Minister Carney understands the critical importance of Calgary to this nation’s prosperity,” said Gondek. “We had a focused and forward-looking discussion about
building a stronger Canada by investing in Prairie Economic Gateway, removing trade barriers, and recognizing Canada’s energy sector as world-class.”

The Prairie Economic Gateway is expected to generate $7 billion in economic activity, and create 30,000 jobs in its first decade, according to the city. Gondek adds Carney is in alignment with this vision.

The mayor says the prime minister also expressed support for removing interprovincial trade barriers and implementing Bill C-5, the One Canadian Economy Act.

On a more local level, the mayor took the meeting opportunity to raise the issue of development fees in the housing sector. She says the PM brought up concerns she had previously raised in a spring letter about the Liberal’s proposal to cut municipal development charges.

Gondek supposedly highlighted how Alberta’s structure is now the same as Quebec’s where federal money is essential.

‘Prime Minister Carney understood that Calgary has been put into a challenging position, where red tape has been created provincially before municipalities can access federal funds,” she said. “That makes it impossible to guarantee Calgary can be made whole by the federal government if development fees are cut, meaning that we need a customized solution as the city delivering the most housing starts in the nation.”

Meeting with energy minister, Calgary MP

The mayor says her meeting with Hodgson, his parliamentary secretary, Calgary-Confederation MP Corey Hogan, and Enmax President and CEO Mark Poweska, covered similar topics.

Also on the agenda was federal recognition of Canada’s conventional and transitional energy sectors as national assets, clarity and regional flexibility on clean electricity regulations, and support for infrastructure and innovation needed to meeting surging electricity demand, including for AI and data centres.

Gondek adds the conversation also touched on the importance of telling a fuller, more accurate story about Canada’s energy sector.

“Minister Hodgson emphasized the need to share how this industry is not only a major economic driver, but also a force for innovation and environmental progress,” the mayor said. “It fuels our economy, supports the services Canadians count on, and positions Canada as a true energy superpower—with Calgary at the centre of it all.

“These conversations were incredibly productive—and they were a signal that Calgary’s voice is being heard in Ottawa. Now, we need to see this alignment turn into action.”