Make no mistake, the provincial UCP government and Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen have gambled on the Green Line, and Calgarians lost.

What’s more, they’ve delivered a devastating blow to the economic future of Calgary. They’ve cost thousands of Calgarians years’ worth of good paying jobs in the trades on the Green Line project and on construction projects adjacent to the Green Line. They’ve jeopardized critically needed housing projects in both market and non-market housing. They’ve now risked federal funding dollars supporting affordable housing along the Green Line and for transit projects across the city.

The provincial government expected Council to kowtow to their demands at any cost to Calgarians. However, I, along with the majority of my council colleagues, were committed to delivering the best project which appropriately supported communities and economic growth through a well-researched and technically feasible manner.

The latest Greenline alignment approved by Council, while truncated due to inflationary pressures, had a solid foundation setting a path towards a fulsome line that would allow future growth for the Green Line to extend to the much-needed north line through Eau Claire, and further south towards Shepard, and eventually Seton.

The approved alignment has been studied extensively, reviewed many times, including by the Province twice, having expressed their concerns and having the City address those concerns. The Minister of Transportation had every opportunity to review these, but based on his comments and actions, did not take that crucial step. In fact, just one month ago, Minister Dreeshen said provincial funding for the project was "100 per cent" secure and “commitment from the province for the Green Line (is) in place and that (the Mayor and Council) can bank on it." This is beyond poor governance, and it is costing Calgary taxpayers.

I know many Calgarians and Ward 11 residents and businesses have made significant decisions based on the Green Line, and I share in your frustration at the current situation the UCP government has put us in. I remain committed to delivering quality public transit for Calgarians and will, when the time is appropriate, explore next steps for improved transit delivery for the communities most impacted by this broken promise from the provincial UCP government.

I encourage you to tell Minister Dreeshen and Premier Smith to keep their promise and maintain provincial funding for the Green Line:

• [email protected]
• [email protected] 
• [email protected]

- Kourtney

The Green Line is one of Calgary’s most significant public infrastructure investments in a decade. It will shape new communities and elevate existing communities by providing a consistent, low cost, low carbon transportation option. Moreover, its creation supports an important vision for increased housing along the route, a crucial pathway as our city grows towards two million people in the next 15 to twenty years.

Calgarians agree, and still see Green Line LRT as important for the city's future, transportation network, and connectivity.

From the results of the 2024 Spring Survey of Calgarians; nearly nine-in-ten believing the Green Line is key for Calgary's future and support the full vision. 88% believe the Green Line LRT is important for Calgary; 89% say the completion of the full Green Line LRT vision is important to Calgary's future.
From the results of the 2023 City of Calgary Spring Pulse Survey, over 90% of Calgarians believe the Green Line LRT is important, that it will enable citizens to better connect with people, places and services, and will be an important addition to Calgary’s transportation network.
 
Since the announcement of the planned route, there have been thousands of new residential units planned along with updated and new commercial and office spaces. At the eastern edge of Ward 11, the City is releasing land for non-market housing and the private sector is converting commercial land to residential uses. This is all happening in anticipation of the Green Line and to align timing as close as possible to the start of its operation.

The project aligns with the priorities of all government levels – more housing, an expanded and connected transit system, and downtown revitalization. It remains critical to seize on this opportunity, to continue building on the nearly completed enabling works downtown, and to secure additional funding to complete the entire route from Eau Claire to Shepard.

When the GL was initially planned in 2013, a very rough cost and budget was created to secure provincial and federal funding partners. It is no surprise that a project costed with little detail almost 10 years ago has experienced the same inflationary pressures as all major projects. Prudent efforts by the Green Line team have led to scope revisions including station design, alignment, and materials to maximize cost reductions where possible while maintaining the integrity of the project. However, a gap still exists. Council is faced with difficult decisions on the project in order to build the core portion (Eau Claire to Millican/Ogden) while looking for funding to advance the entire line to Shepard, which would include stations supporting residents in Quarry Park, Riverbend, Douglas Dale, and Douglas Glen.

The City is prepared and able to fund a major portion of these inflationary overruns in order to deliver on commitments to Calgarians, to the provincial and federal governments as funding partners, and to the private sector with their respective investments along the route. We continue to seek funding from the federal and provincial governments as their commitment is both jurisdictional and displays a strong commitment to ensuring the City of Calgary continues to offer residents services which meet their expectations.

Ward 11 residents, current and future, will benefit greatly from a full-length completion of Phase 1 of the Green Line, which I remain committed to advancing while balancing the benefits with costs. I am proud to be here at this moment to be part of these hard decisions, and I am proud of the investments we are making for Calgarians.
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- Kourtney

The owner of the Glenmore Landing Shopping Centre, RioCan, has submitted an outline plan and land use amendment application.
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The application includes the shopping centre property and the adjacent City-owned land. The City of Calgary is reviewing the application and will accept public comments until July 22, 2024.
 
You can download the circulation package and the design framework (comprehensive plan for redevelopment) that are being reviewed by the City for this application at  Glenmore Landing Redevelopment Proposal (calgary.ca)
 
Please submit comments through the Development Map link. https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/?find=LOC2023-0130
 
Comments are due by: July 22, 2024 

On May 23, 2024, The South Hill land use application for the east side of Riverbend was at Calgary Planning Commission.

Per the notice from the City (below), residents will note that the Commission chose to remove the barricade on Riverstone Road for bus and emergency access, which would allow for all vehicle use.

Based on conversations with residents, I advocated to maintain this condition at Planning Commission, however this was not supported and an amendment to the Outline Plan was passed.

You can watch video of the presentation by Administration, my debate, and changes by Commission here:
pub-calgary.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIStandAlonePlayer.aspx?Id=fd53a68c-7126-4625-9710-4130cc0dc0db (Item starts at 3:00:00)

Knowing this was important to nearby residents, I am working with Administration to understand if there is another opportunity to give direction to have Riverstone Road open to only transit and emergency access. It is my hope to have this plan in place for public hearing on July 16, 2024.

I encourage residents to consider writing to Council or presenting to Council to voice concerns at the July 16 Public Hearing of Council
 
Find more information on the public submission and presentation process here:
Council and committee meetings (calgary.ca)
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Kourtney

​The need for homes is not going away. On this it seems, we all agree. To that end, a societal crisis requires our collective response.
 
 
Do we need to build in the greenfield to accommodate the number of people coming to Calgary?
 
Yes (right now), AND
 
Do we need to ensure we are releasing city owned land for subsidized affordable housing?
 
Yes (we are), AND
 
Do we need to continue to encourage development around transit?
 
Yes, AND
 
Do we need to provide more options in low density housing form in established communities?
 
Yes, and that’s why we are here.
 
 
 
We’ve hosted a brave conversation. We have held space for competing viewpoints through a democratic process of a public hearing.
 
It is apparent that Calgarians are connected to their neighbourhoods. They have built memories and invested in community. And for those who do not have that stability – they indicated they are seeking those same opportunities, to move simply from housing to a place they can call home.
 
It is not lost on me the personal and vulnerable stories shared with us about living or escaping precarious housing positions or the real challenges of finding housing despite having (adequate) stable income or saving. I worry about those who didn’t come share their stories but who are living rough situations every day.
 
We will need to move forward together after this decision. This action alone will not solve the housing crisis and neither will this destroy neighbourhoods.
 
Calgarians and Council will have to contemplate the future after our decision, as there will be need for further action and investment no matter the vote today. On the backside we will have to manage the challenges. Many of the concerns raised from both sides could be true – we could struggle with parking. We could also struggle with more homelessness.

When it comes right down to it, I would rather have the challenge of managing utility capacity or infrastructure upgrades, parking or garbage bins than managing the challenges that come from a housing shortage.
 
I don’t want to need to increase funding to social agencies or continue to see housing and rents costs drastically outpacing inflation or wages. I want to lessen the pressure on non-market housing providers and know that every door means one less houseless person or family, because it is not just those on the lowest income spectrum unable to find housing.
 
 
We are one of the most diverse Cities in Canada–by age, income, ethnicity, but this diversity is not reflected in our housing.
 
A thought leader on EDI says the opposite of equity diversity and inclusion is:

• Homogeneity
• Inequality
• Exclusion

 
If we are truly committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion as City leaders, then we cannot ignore that those values must be part of our housing and land strategy, city wide.

 
Saying yes to city-wide rezoning, yes to a new(ish) kind of housing, in more places across all communities, will be one of the most kind and generous things we can do for our city, for others who are here now and needing housing, and those who are coming who we’ve yet to meet. Generosity as a principle is about setting aside personal need for the good of others.
 
Community is built by action. Actions of hope, joy, love, sharing. Community is not a static state.
 
The words that resonated with me throughout the hearing were the need for future focus, sustainability, and normalization of new-ish housing types. Housing needs to be our priority.
 
Financially, this is good for everyone.  Environmentally, this is good for everyone.  Socially, this is incredibly good for everyone.
 
Whether by need or by choice, we need more homes.
 
This is not a matter of if we build it, they will come. They are coming. They are already here. 
 
To borrow from Mr. Johnston – It’s time to build optimism. I am supporting rezoning.