Calgary’s mayor says the province’s decision to overturn some Edmonton infill housing rules is threatening the process for local democracy.
While the order from Premier Danielle Smith’s government will largely leave Calgary unaffected, Mayor Jeromy Farkas says it sets a dangerous precedent for the province working to influence city councillors in the future.
“Just because the premier agrees with how I voted yesterday, does not mean that she gets to decide how I vote tomorrow,” Farkas told reporters outside of Calgary city council chambers on Friday.
Farkas says city council has an obligation to listen to citizens on important issues in public hearings as evidence for their decisions, but being forced to follow directions from a higher government undermines that process.
He also put the decision in the context of Smith’s government making legal changes giving it the right to call a vote on whether a local elected official should be removed from their post if the province believes the official is unwilling or unable to do their job.
“You can’t order me to vote a certain way at city council and if I don’t adhere to your order, are you actually going to fire me as the mayor of the city of Calgary?” Farkas added.
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack reposted a video shared on social media by Farkas on Friday, in which he expressed his concerns.
His comments come a day after Smith directed the City of Edmonton to abandon rules allowing for multi-unit complexes in older, established neighbourhoods.
The city has three months to comply.
Edmonton implemented the zoning change in 2024 in order to build higher-density neighbourhoods and make room for intense population growth.
Smith said she does not want to intervene but is hearing concerns about parking and whether the multi-unit complexes are a good fit in older neighbourhoods.
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“There’s great places that you can put eight-plexes … but not in the middle of a single-family home street,” the premier said on the Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen podcast on Friday.
“There’s just a basic sense that something went wrong here and we’ve got to get them back to where they were in 2024.
“Let’s try a reset and find the right place for these kinds of developments.”
Calgary already rolled back similar rules earlier this year following a public hearing over a span of two weeks, with more than 400 public speakers and nearly 3,300 written submissions.
Smith directed Calgary keep those rules in place.
Rob Anderson, Smith’s chief of staff, responded to Farkas with a statement on social media saying the mayor was being “a bit melodramatic.”
Anderson said the multi-unit policies reduced property values for homeowners and provided no compensation.
“That is a breach of property rights,” he wrote. “The (United Conservative Party) government will continue to stand up for regular homeowners and property rights.”
Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack has also pushed back on Smith’s announcement, saying it was ill-considered and rash. Knack called on the premier to reverse course.
There’s also been pushback from the president of Alberta Municipalities and the Opposition NDP, who say the government’s decision is another step in the erosion of Alberta’s local democracy.
Edmonton political analyst John Brennan said there’s irony in the province stepping into municipal affairs, when it has spent so much time calling on Ottawa politicians to stay in their lane.
“Danielle Smith is always complaining about the federal government intervening in areas of provincial jurisdiction,” Brennan told Global News on Thursday.
“In fact, you could argue a number of our questions on the October 19 referendum are about this — but it doesn’t seem to stop her from intervening with municipalities.”
The Alberta government does have the legal right to force changes that many Edmonton residents have been asking for.
In 2024, Smith’s government gave itself the power to rescind municipal bylaws deemed to be at odds with provincial policies.
Her government also granted itself the right to call a vote on whether a local elected official should be removed from their post if the province believes the official is unwilling or unable to do their job.
Brennan said it’s still heavy-handed and reeks of overreach, especially as the province has already forced changes at the local level with bike lanes and photo radar enforcement.
“In all my years in politics in Edmonton — and I’ve spent a lot of time in municipal government and politics — I’ve never seen anything like this, where a provincial government literally tells a municipal council that they’ve got to repeal their zoning bylaw and they’ve got three months to do it.”
Infill ended up being a contentious topic during the 2025 fall municipal election campaign after residents of established communities expressed concerns about property values, not enough parking, predatory developers, quality of builds and housing affordability.
“At the end of the day, people don’t like change,” Brennan said. “They don’t like the changes they’re seeing in their neighbourhood.”
Infill advocates suggest the province’s move is undemocratic.
“Edmontonians had their chance to have their say in this matter — it was called the 2025 municipal election,” said Jacob Dawang with Grow Together Edmonton, a volunteer organization that advocates for more housing choices.
“They chose, in great numbers, to return pro-infill councillors to council.”
With files from Karen Bartko, Global News and Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press
The UCP could stop contradicting themselves so much. They are also bullies.
Well Knack was not listening to his citizens so we had to go higher up to be heard. He has completely lost control of his city and should move on and out of politics as his unicorn thoughts on how the city should look are totally dilusional.
The last 3 Calgary mayors have been total clowns.
I am happy that the provincial government stepped in and halted this terrible type of housing. No one wants to live in crowded neighbourhoods with no space and no yard. While these tiny homes work for 2 working professionals once you throw 2 growing kids into the mix, they’re too darn small! I moved years ago from BC to have a nice house with a big backyard. No one wants these tiny jokes for homes long term!
The provincial government has that right and that power, and stopping high density yet high cost accomodation is in the best interests of the people of edmonton.
No more infills in Calgary.
The city misrepresented the nature and scale of these. People are only finding out that “gentle density” isn’t so gentle after the fact
The same needs to be done for Calgary.
Yuri, you’re confused. Municipalities are a provincial responsibility. Carney isnt going to tell her anything, except maybe thanking her for all the hard work to get these pipelines advanced.
Alberta city’s mayors ignoring the public outcry over infill is disturbing.
Smith needs more of the taste of her own medicine.
Go Farkas
Go knack
Can’t wait till Carney starts to tell her wait to shove it.
Disturbing precedents is what smith wingnut is known for.
I don’t think the old infrastructure was designed for all the extra power and water especially the sewer, no parking, no place to put the snow, is that so they can get there buddy that has a snow removal company to hall it and we pay more instead of the old way were we leave room to put it on the median? Just like all these speed bumps they put in to increase response times for the fire trucks now in our area. I called and they said they took it into consideration but yet I know that first responders are saying it’s increased response time. Looks like operational negligence.
As the municipality get their authority delegated by the province, the province has always had the authority to fire a mayor if they are voting for things against the wishes of the province. Like a municipal bylaw must not be against the provincial laws. – Why does the mayor not understand how government works. -Why is Global not explaining how the mayor is so wrong.
Now you may disagree (and I often do) with the province, one cannot deny their rights and authorities.
Farcas sleeps with other men. Like Trudeau. I trust no men that delight in the Hershey highway.
You just cannot talk with this City. They repeatedly prove they do not give a damn about their citizens and we are just revenue generators
At least, in Edmonton, Knack didn’t make a complete fool of himself with stupid comments like Farkas did.
With those crazy infills only the developers and the City wins.
Developers build, cash in, then vanish.
City collects more taxes.
The longstanding residents grt the shaft. Firstly, they’re not consulted. If they are, their voices are ignored.
Then, they can’t even sell their properties because nobody wants to live next to the 4 storey monstrosity overlooking your backyard.
I’m glad to live in St. Albert where our City council actually listened to us and decided against the infill in the established neighbourhoods.
Funny Farkas says we must be free to listen to the residents.
Since when did you actually listen to your residents, you pompous ass?
The province stepped in BECAUSE you did not listen to the residents!
Same with Edmonton.
Infill everywhere while property values plummet.
Well I know Mr Farkas has complete disdain for the current premier he should remember to take his own advice & listen to his City voters as well.
Maybe the media should try talking to home owners who’s property values have decreased by 100K because of this half-baked ideology, or those that invested in solar panels that now do nothing because they’re shaded all day by these monstrosities.