Summary#

Calgary City Council approved changing its 2024 direction to reinstate a biennial (every two years) municipal census starting in 2028, rather than 2027. The stated goal is to give City staff more time to develop and deliver the census.

• City staff must bring census funding needs forward for consideration in the 2027–2030 Service Plans and Budgets; Council has not approved that funding.
• City staff must update Executive Committee in October 2026, the second quarter of 2027 and the fourth quarter of 2027 on the program’s timelines, actions, budget, risks and ways to reduce them.
• The report recommends a City-led census, using contractors for parts where available. The adopted direction does not specify a delivery model.
• A contractor-analysis attachment will remain confidential and be reviewed on June 9, 2076.

What it means for you#

• Calgary residents: The City plans to resume its census in 2028 and repeat it every two years. The decision does not say how residents will take part, what information will be collected or how collection will work.
• City staff and taxpayers: City staff must develop the program and present its funding needs for consideration. The decision does not itself approve the future census budget.
• Council oversight: Executive Committee must receive the three progress updates. The final motion passed 13–2; Councillors Jamieson and Johnston voted against it. The supplied material does not give their reasons.

Money#

The future census funding request has no updated total in the available material; City staff say it will be higher than the 2024 estimates.

• Setup and preparation received $0.5 million in each of 2025 and 2026 from the Housing Accelerator Fund.
• In 2024, City staff estimated $12.8 million for a City-led census and $10.7 million for a contractor-led census. Each estimate covered two censuses over 2027–2030.
• Staff say the updated amounts will be higher because of inflation, technology hardware, mail and enumeration costs, and a contingency. Council directed staff to bring the funding needs forward for consideration, not to spend a set amount.

What is unclear#

• The decision does not specify how the census will be delivered, what it will ask, how households will be contacted or how people can respond.
• The future budget amount and its funding source have not been set.
• The report describes a City-led approach, but the adopted direction does not expressly require it.
• The contractor analysis remains confidential until its scheduled review in 2076.

Case for#

• City staff say the 2027 contractor-led plan is not viable: their review found no contractor offering a complete delivery model, and contractor experience with large cities was limited.
• Staff say moving to 2028 allows more time for program design, staffing and training, and would give the City more control over software, data security and privacy.
• Staff say local population data is needed more often than federal census data alone provides for a fast-growing city. A biennial schedule would provide more frequent information for planning services and infrastructure.

Case against#

• The delay means residents, businesses and service planners will wait longer for the next civic census. City staff call this disappointing and say existing data, including federal census data expected through 2027, can help bridge the gap.
• Staff identify higher start-up costs and the need to build internal expertise as risks of a City-led approach. They also say the updated budget will be higher than the 2024 estimate.
• The decision does not set out collection methods or detailed safeguards. City staff identify data misuse and operational problems as risks, but the confidential contractor analysis limits what the public can see about delivery options.