Calgarians are rising extra optimistic concerning the metropolis’s path however extra are questioning the worth they get for his or her tax {dollars}, in line with a brand new metropolis survey.
The Metropolis of Calgary conducts two annual surveys, within the fall and spring, with the most recent fall survey set to be offered to the brand new metropolis council Monday as a part of the 2026 finances proposal.
In keeping with the findings, 71 per cent of respondents rated their high quality of life in Calgary pretty much as good or superb, down barely from the spring survey however up 5 per cent in comparison with final fall’s survey; though that survey was performed following a summer season of water restrictions because of the rupture of a important metropolis feeder important.
Practically seven-in-10 of respondents consider Calgary is heading in the right direction to be a greater metropolis in 10 years, with 68 per cent noting town is a good place to make a residing. Seventy-three per cent agreed Calgary can be an ideal place to “make a life.”
“I’d say total it’s not unhealthy,” Jon Buda stated when requested about high quality of life in Calgary. “It’s a reasonably protected metropolis in comparison with Toronto and different elements of Canada.”
Nonetheless, solely 42 per cent of these surveyed consider Calgary is shifting in the appropriate path to make sure a top quality of life for future generations and 56 per cent really feel their high quality of life has worsened over the previous three years.
“It’s just a little bit more durable simply because the whole lot will not be as inexpensive now, again within the day it was simpler,” Calgarian Liam Leeson advised International Information in response to the outcomes. “However I nonetheless consider residing in Calgary may be very protected, enjoyable and pleasurable anyplace you go.”
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Forward of finances deliberations in a matter of weeks, 39 per cent of respondents felt infrastructure, site visitors and roads topped the checklist of points Calgarians discovered most vital, adopted by crime, security and policing, which moved as much as the second spot in comparison with the spring survey.
The highest 5 priorities listed by Calgarians within the metropolis’s newest citizen survey, and their change in comparison with the spring survey.
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Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Xmas stated the knowledge is vital for the brand new council heading into finances discussions, and matches up with what he heard whereas on the marketing campaign path.
“One of many issues I noticed in correlation with door-knocking was the necessity for infrastructure,” he stated. “North-central Calgary is feeling the pinch of that progress in Ward 3 with out the corresponding infrastructure to help it.”
General, two-thirds, or 69 per cent, of respondents have been happy with the extent and high quality of companies and packages provided by town, which has trended upward within the earlier two surveys.
Regardless of the satisfaction with companies, lower than half, or 42 per cent, of respondents really feel they’re getting good worth for his or her property taxes.
That statistic is regarding for Ward 5 Coun. Raj Dhaliwal, who hopes the problem could be addressed by the brand new council in addition to some infrastructure investments allotted to pavement high quality by the earlier council later in its time period.
“Folks consider what they contact and really feel,” Dhaliwal stated. “Folks consider when their roads aren’t bumpy, folks consider the worth is there after they see the grass is mowed each month or so, that’s the worth they see.”
Nonetheless, relating to the “trade-off” between taxes and companies, the survey confirmed 50 per cent of respondents leaned in direction of rising taxes to take care of or improve companies, whereas 42 per cent would quite see companies lower to take care of or scale back property taxes.
The 2026 finances consists of an total property tax improve of three.6 per cent, or round 5.4 per cent for the typical residential home-owner, however Calgary mayor Jeromy Farkas has indicated he’d like council to make a “important” discount to the rise by “at-least half.”
“We expect that’s sensible,” Farkas stated. “We’ve received to nonetheless spend money on security, and we have to be sure that we’re spending the suitable cash round important infrastructure, we have to get rolling on water pipes. There’s a variety of areas the place we have to lean in.”
Calgarians’ satisfaction of how town is run declined barely to 59 per cent, down 4 per cent from the spring survey, whereas just below half or 47 per cent of respondents belief town, down from 52 per cent within the spring however up from 41 per cent final fall.
In keeping with town, the decline in belief “seems to replicate a shift towards impartial” quite than mistrust.
However they’re numbers Farkas believes he and the brand new council “inherited” from the earlier mayor and metropolis council, and that he hopes to enhance.
“Calgarians wish to see their views and voices mirrored within the choices which might be made right here,” the brand new mayor stated. “That’s our collective dedication.”
Ipsos Public Affairs performed the survey for town and interviewed 2,500 Calgarians over the telephone from July 30, 2025 to Aug. 28, 2025, and the survey has a margin of error of ± 1.96 proportion factors, 19 instances out of 20.
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