Voting Record

2026 September 22 | Item 11.1 (Urgent Business) | CARRIED 14-1 | Schmidt Voted in Favour

Summary: Urgent Notice of Motion from the Mayor to affirm Calgary’s place as a vital part of Alberta and Canada. This affirmation does not have direct policy implications.

What does it mean: The Mayor tabled this Notice of Motion prior to the Provincial Referendum on Oct. 19 to signal Council’s position on the Separation question. Although this is a provincial referendum, municipalities are significantly affected by our place in Canada and the country we call home.

Moved: Farkas

My Vote: I voted in favour of this motion because I support Alberta remaining in Canada. The potential effects of separation for Calgary and all municipalities could create challenges with funding, maintaining, and regulating our municipal services like infrastructure, water utility, transportation, public safety, and more, not to mention the stability and growth of our economy. Certainty is one of the most valuable things a municipality can have, and the vote on separation is resulting in significant uncertainty.

2026 September 22 | Item 9.4.2 | CARRIED 14-0 | Schmidt Voted in Favour

Summary: Final step in establishing a Council Committee through a new bylaw for matters relating to the Calgary Fire Department (CFD) with members from Council and the public.

What does it mean: CFD provides critical emergency services for all Calgarians and represents a significant part of our budget. Establishing this committee is intended to increase transparency and accountability through proactive advice related to service levels, long-range planning, and emerging issues. This mirrors the structure of Audit Committee.

Moved: Wyness

My Vote: I voted in favour because of the potential for achieving better outcomes for the CFD and Calgarians. I raised some concerns about the costs associated with adding another committee and the pressure this will place on our legislative staff responsible for Council and Committee meetings. However, in weighing these issues against the importance of CFD for our city, I decided that establishing this committee was in the best interests of Calgarians.

2026 September 8 (Committee) | Item 7.3 | Option 3 - 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW Surface Alignment CARRIED 12-1 at Committee - CARRIED 12-2 at Council (no changes) | Schmidt Voted in Favour

Summary: Our final decision on choosing the alignment for Phase 2 of the Green Line Downtown Segment of the Green Line connecting to the Phase 1 SE Segment currently under construction. In June 2026, Council directed Administration to provide the final alternative options for the Phase 2 alignment based on feedback from a new round of public engagement while maintaining requirements for provincial and federal funding. We were presented with three options, two elevated and one surface as follows:

• Option 1 - Current Baseline – 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW Elevated Alignment
• Option 2 - 10 Avenue and 1 Street SE Elevated Alignment
• Option 3 - 10 Avenue and 2 Street SW Surface Alignment  

What does it mean: Phase 2 of the Green Line has suffered from several delays that have increased costs and risks, and this vote was essentially our decision to continue with the Green Line. Without Phase 2, we would not reach ridership goals and lose an important connection into Downtown, putting the remainder of the project through the rest of downtown and up Centre Street North at risk. The original plan for a tunnel through Downtown was denied as an option by the Provincial Government which left us with the three choices listed about.

Moved: Kelly

My Vote: This was a difficult decision because our best option of a tunnel alignment was not on the table. This left us with three decisions that were not as favourable. My decision was based on strong opposition from affected residents, businesses, and stakeholders to an elevated option. However, Option 3 still raised legitimate and significant concerns from business owners and residents in the surrounding area related to construction, accessibility, and design. I heard these concerns and put forward the following amendment:

• Develop a comprehensive public realm, streetscape, and mobility plan for 10 Avenue addressing the movement and integration of vehicles, parking, walking, and wheeling, and strengthening connections between the Green Line LRT, communities north of the CPKC corridor, and the Beltline. The plan shall respond to community needs and support the creation of a vibrant, well-connected, and integrated corridor and shall become part of the quarterly Green Line updates with a full scoping report to be delivered no later than Q1 2027. This amendment passed 9-4.

• Several other Councillors put forward an amendment to provide interim improvements to transit in North Calgary and bring forward to the November 3 Executive Committee, capital cost estimates for the full build-out of the Max Green Bus Rapid Transit line from Keystone Hills to Downtown, including the associated transit assets required to sustain operations, together with the incremental costs associated with each phase of the build-out. Administration shall also report on the planning work required to define a downtown Bus Rapid Transit Loop/Station and develop future capital cost estimates.

2026 September 1 (Committee) | Item 7.4 | CARRIED 5-2 at Committee - CARRIED 9-6 at Council (no changes) | Schmidt Voted in Favour

Summary: Updated the priority areas of Home is Here, the City’s housing strategy managed primarily by the Chief Housing Office and approved in September 2023. The Strategy was implemented with 98 actions and Council directed Administration to streamline these actions in May 2026. This is a result of that direction and was informed by engagement with the housing sector, analysis of related provincial and federal policies, assessment of the 2025 and 2026 City surveys of Calgarians, and the input of Calgarians on non-market housing and affordability at Council and Committee hearings.

What does it mean: The actions decreased from 98 to 10, mainly focusing on non-market housing through City programs, leveraging funding from other levels of government, and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and housing partners.

Moved: Clark

My Vote: I voted in favour of this but did not entirely agree with this new approach because I believe we must continue to address housing affordability and non-market housing with as many tools as we have at our disposal. Housing is a core need for every Calgarian, and none of us can lead safe, successful lives without a place to live. By limiting our priorities, we limit our chances to address the diverse range of housing needs across our city. Ultimately, it was important to have strong agreement on Council with the direction of the Housing Strategy leading up to our crucial decisions on the four-year budget, and I chose to support the refreshed plan to ensure it has the best chance to succeed over the next four years.

2026 September 1 (Committee) | Item 7.3 | CARRIED 10-0 at Committee - CARRIED on CONSENT AGENDA at Council (no changes) | Schmidt Voted in Favour

Summary: Vision Zero is an international road safety strategy with the goal of eliminating traffic-related fatalities and severe injuries. Elements of this were adopted into our own Safer Mobility Plan 2024-2028 and presented to committee as the Vision Zero 2027-2030 Action Plan.

What does it mean: This item is a response to Council’s direction to Administration to expedite and clarify the outcomes of our strategies in preparation for the 2027-2030 budget cycle. It was also the final step for my Notice of Motion that immediately adds $6 million of additional funding for these outcomes which was confirmed as follows:

• $2.5 million to address the highest-risk locations identified in the Traffic Safety and AI data discussed above; and
• $3.5 million for neighbourhood-level improvements resulting in $250 thousand for each ward to use to address problem areas based on constituent concerns.

Moved: Pantazopoulos

My Vote: I voted in favour because the rise in serious traffic-related death and injury requires immediate action. That is why I tabled my Notice of Motion for an immediate funding increase of $6 million. That will help us take immediate action, and supporting the continuation of our overall strategy signals our intention to fund traffic safety initiatives on the upcoming budget so this action continues over the next four years.

2026 September 1 (Committee) | Item 7.2| CARRIED 10-0 at Committee - CARRIED on CONSENT AGENDA at Council (no changes) | Schmidt Voted in Favour

Summary: New Mobility program using Artificial Intelligence to expedite data analysis to identify the top 50 highest-risk locations city-wide for pedestrian safety.

What does it mean: We received an update on the results of this new initiative for improving the process for addressing high-risk pedestrian safety areas around Calgary. This was particularly important for Ward 8 as 12/50 of the sites are in our communities. The next step is funding the program in the 2027-2030 Budget Cycle. Full funding would mean all the Ward 8 locations would qualify for curb extensions, crosswalk improvements, traffic studies, traffic signals, and other countermeasures or studies.

Moved: Kelly

My Vote: I voted in favour because the rise in serious traffic-related death and injury requires immediate action. That is why I tabled my Notice of Motion for an immediate funding increase of $6 million. That will help us take immediate action, and supporting the continuation of our overall strategy signals our intention to fund traffic safety initiatives on the upcoming budget so this action continues over the next four years.

2026 June 30 | Item 7.12 | EC2026-0018 | CARRIED 8–7 | Schmidt MOVED the amendment

Summary: Replaces the recommendation with direction to seek $130,000 to design a Purpose-Built Rental Tax Exemption Program, engage industry, and return to Executive Committee by Q3 2027 with bylaws for transit-oriented locations and a Greater Downtown high-rise scoping report.

What does it mean: A property tax incentive aimed specifically at new rental housing near transit will now be implemented for appropriate sites in Calgary. The incentive will likely only apply to the construction period and all projects receiving the incentive will revert to paying full property taxes once construction is complete and occupation begins.

Moved: Schmidt

My Vote: I not only voted in favour but amended the recommendations to save this program, which was one of three proposed programs in this item. Administration recommended against all three but agreed this program had the potential to create the best outcomes at the lowest cost. The argument against moving forward with the incentive was based on current market conditions. However, housing needs can change quickly and having more tools in our toolkit to respond to these changes is an advantage. Furthermore, encouraging development around transit hubs is a proven strategy that makes life affordable.

2026 June 30 | Item 9.4.5 | EC2026-0562 | CARRIED 15–0 | Schmidt NOTICE OF MOTION

Summary: Directs Administration to use up to $6 million of the 2026 operating surplus for a strategic traffic safety pilot — flashing beacons and temporary corridor safety improvements — funded at equal levels in every ward, reporting back to Community Development by September 2026.

What does it mean: This additional funding will allow us to take action more quickly in some of the most dangerous areas for traffic safety around Calgary and also with neighbourhood issues in each ward. The Notice of Motion allows us to proceed to the next steps for creating a framework for implementation of the funding which will come to Community Development Committee in September.

Moved: Schmidt

My Vote: I brought this Notice of Motion because of the concerning rise in traffic safety incidents resulting in serious injury or death which requires immediate action. We have the tools to improve safety and this funding boost will allow us to take action more quickly. Part of the funding will be used to take immediate action in the areas around Calgary identified as the most dangerous (many of which are in Ward 8), and the remaining funding will be divided equally between each ward to address traffic safety issues raised by residents on an ongoing basis with more control given to individual councillors about where and when this money is used. 

Free Fare Zone Review - Deferral to Fare Strategy

2026 May 26 | Item 7.11 · IP2026-0286 Amendment 1 | CARRIED 9-6 | Schmidt voted in favour of deferral

Summary: Amendment 1 – Defer the Free Fare Zone vote to Q1 2027 as part of the comprehensive fare review process already underway.

What does it mean: The deferral to the fare review process allows Council to assess the value of the Free Fare Zone in the context of an updated fare strategy with better data and keeps the program alive until a final decision is made. Two amendments passed as part of this vote:

• Direct Administration to undertake further engagement with stakeholders in the Downtown including businesses, organizations, and arts organizations. 
• Direct Administration to continue efforts to secure a sponsoring partner for the Downtown Free Fare Zone and to report back to Council on the progress of sponsorship discussions at the 2026 September 9 Infrastructure and Planning Committee meeting.

One amendment, which I strongly supported, failed by one vote:

• Direct Administration to explore the feasibility of transferring the Free Fare Zone program from Calgary Transit to the Downtown Strategy team for ongoing operations and budgeting with a focus on improving downtown vibrancy and public safety.

Moved: Chabot

My Vote: A detailed summary of this item can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

2026 May 26 | Item 7.8 | CD2026-0081 | CARRIED 10-4 | Schmidt MOVED the amendment

Summary: Safer Together is a broad strategy outlining the City of Calgary’s plan to address public safety across our city. Calgary has had many individual strategies and initiatives related to public safety for many years, but this work has never been compiled into a single, dedicated strategy. Safer Together is the first time we have everything in one place under one plan. 

What does it mean: The strategy is a comprehensive approach to public safety that takes everything we are doing as a City and creates a path for better collaboration between emergency services, social services, and community partners to achieve better public safety outcomes for Calgarians.

Moved: Schmidt.

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

2026 May 26 | Item 9.4.14 | EC2026-0421 | CARRIED 11–3 | Schmidt voted in favour with his suggested revision to include consideration of a “multi-service public safety and community hub” as part of the needs assessment process.

Summary: This directs Administration to work with Calgary Police Commission, Calgary Police Service, and community partners to undertake a needs assessment for a Calgary Police Service District Station or a multi-service public safety and community hub in Downtown Calgary.

What does it mean: This takes the first step to assess the need for a new police station or multi-service hub in downtown Calgary in response to public safety concerns. This proposal does not direct the police or Council to do more than determine its alignment with enforcement and safety outcomes, where it would go, and what it would cost with a report back to Council in Q4 2026 about the findings of the assessment.

Moved: Farkas

My Vote: A detailed summary of this item can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

2026 May 26 | Item 9.4.10 | EC2026-0375 | CARRIED 10–5 | Schmidt voted AGAINST rescinding

Summary: This rescinds the Climate Emergency Declaration from 2021 and directs Administration to cease all references to a Climate Emergency in all official City of Calgary materials and further directs them to no longer use the Climate Emergency as justification or authority for future decisions.

What does it mean: There is very little practical effect to this motion. Our primary tool for responding to extreme weather, environmental issues, and climate resilience is our Climate Strategy which is unaffected by the Climate Emergency declaration. There may be risks to future funding opportunities from other levels of government and reputational risks with community and government partners.

My Vote: There was a division into three separate votes. A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

2026 May 26 | Item 9.4.8 | EC2026-0424 | CARRIED 15–0 | Schmidt voted in favour 

Summary: This will explore ways to establish a simplified way for Calgarians to donate to their local Community Association for capital repairs and maintenance.

What does it mean: Right now, it is difficult for Calgarians to donate to their Community Association and receive a charitable tax-receipt. The City of Calgary is a registered charity, and Community Associations are owned and supported by the City but leased to individual communities as independent entities.

This notice of motion will look at the problem created by this relationship and seek to create a framework for Calgarians to directly donate to their local Community Association and receive a tax receipt as they would for any other charity.

Moved: Ward

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

2026 May 26 | Item 9.4.6 | EC2026-0427 | CARRIED 13–2 | Schmidt voted in favour

Summary: This will assess the resources needed to add limited-scale policies from other Local Area Plans like Westbrook and Heritage to the Chinook Local Area Plan. It directs further scoping to assess the work needed to evaluate higher-density urban form categories and building scales in certain areas of the Chinook Local Area Plan.

What does it mean: Adding limited-scale policies to all LAPs will provide consistency in Local Area Plan rules specifically for lower-intensity built forms like townhouses, rowhouses, duplexes, and single-family homes.

The assessment of higher-density categories and scales in the Chinook Local Area Plan is specific to this plan only and would require more intensive resources for consultation and engagement.

Moved: Chabot

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

2026 April 28 | Item 9.4.3 | CARRIED 11–4 | Schmidt MOVED it

Summary: The Province is considering changes to the AISH program that will split eligibility into two categories and potentially affect funding levels and supports. This Notice of Motion asks the Province to come to the table and collaborate with affected parties, including municipalities, to better understand the potential effects on our residents and City-led services.

What does it mean: AISH recipients in Calgary live with constant financial uncertainty. The difference of even $100 a month can mean deciding between staying housed, buying food, or affording transportation. These changes have the potential to add additional pressure and cost to City-led services but regardless of this, Council has a responsibility to advocate for our constituents who have limited ability to adapt to financial uncertainty.

Moved: Schmidt

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 4, 2026

2026 April 28 | Item 9.4.1 | CD2026-0150 | CARRIED 10–5 | Schmidt voted in favour

Summary: The Water Efficiency Plan and Bylaw amendments are the result of Council-directed updates to the previous plan from 2005 and aligns with other recent plans like the Drought Resilience Plan passed in October 2023. The Plan seeks to achieve better water conservation by 2040 through gradually reducing water usage citywide by 20%. Although not required, engagement occurred with the public, industry stakeholders, and subject-matter experts from 2024-2025.

What does it mean: Changes to the bylaw include a rotating schedule for outdoor watering of established lawns and plants organized by odd and even numbered houses rotating three days of watering per week.

Moved: Dhaliwal

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 4, 2026

2026 April 28 | Item 9.3.1| CARRIED 12–3 | Schmidt voted AGAINST extension

Summary: Directs administration to begin the work to extend transfer times for transit tickets from 90-120 minutes. Estimates from available data showed this would affect 0.5% of transit riders for a cost of $2 million to be considered in the 2027-2030 budget.

What does it mean: This motion extends this time to continue to use the same ticket for 120 minutes.

Moved: Jamieson

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 4, 2026

2026 April 28 | Item 9.4.7 | CARRIED 14–0 | Schmidt MOVED it

Summary: Provides an additional $1.7 million of funding from the Fiscal Stability Reserve for 2026 Parks maintenance service levels which includes mowing, pest management, public washroom cleaning, and garbage cleanup.

What does it mean: Over 95% of Calgarians use a City park at least once per year. Park maintenance was identified as the biggest concern. Parks funding has not kept up with inflation and City growth, and maintenance has suffered. This funding increase aligns with the Council-approved maintenance levels for future years being considered in the 2027-2030 budget service plans.

Moved: Schmidt

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 4, 2026

2026 March 31 | Item 9.3.4 | CARRIED 13–2 | Schmidt voted AGAINST review

Summary: Directs Administration to engage KPMG as a consultant at a cost $1 million to engage in a ZBB review pilot of three City Business Units identified by Council. This would be followed by an additional $3 million of funding to continue the process if approved in the 2027-2030 budget.

What does it mean: ZBB is primarily used in the private sector and is a process that identifies and implements opportunities to improve “efficiencies” and identifies cost savings while maintaining an existing base level of service. Council implemented the same program beginning in 2011 and paused in 2020 with a final report delivered in 2023.

Moved: McLean

My Vote: A detailed summary can be found here Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 4, 2026

2025 December 3 | Item 9.3.2 | C2025-0901 | DEFEATED 5–10 | Schmidt voted AGAINST the freeze

Summary: An amendment would have directed Administration to wipe out the previous Council’s approved 1.64% increase and set the 2026 property tax adjustment at zero, without touching police, fire or transit budgets.

What does it mean: The freeze failed, so the 2026 property tax increase proceeded.

Moved: Tyers

My Vote: I voted against this motion because it lacked specificity about what would be cut and why. Maintaining affordability for Calgarians is important, but the services we deliver are equally important. Changes to funding levels must be matched with outcomes. In my view, asking for a general cut like this without additional details is not responsible governance.

2025 December 1 | Item 9.3.2 | DEFEATED 7–8 | Schmidt voted AGAINST elimination

Summary: An amendment would have ended the Free Fares for Children 12 and Under program, worth $3.6 million, effective July 1, 2026.

What does it mean: Eliminating this program means children under 12 would be required to pay transit fares.

Moved: Chabot

My Vote: Free access to transit for young people makes life more affordable for families and encourages more people to use transit. I strongly support making transit more accessible to more people and did not see the value in eliminating this program.

2025 December 1 | Item 9.3.2 | DEFEATED 7–8 | Schmidt voted AGAINST elimination

Summary: An amendment would have eliminated the downtown Free Fare Zone, worth about $5.2 million a year, and applied the savings against transit frequency costs and the property tax increase.

What does it mean: The zone survived by one vote. It returned as a formal review in February 2026 and again as a deferral in May 2026.

Moved: Chabot, seconded Dhaliwal — who then voted against his own seconded motion.

My Vote: