Summary#

Calgary City Council passed Bylaw 35M2026 at third reading on September 22, 2026, establishing a Fire Services Committee. The goal is to give Council a dedicated forum to discuss fire services and receive advice; the committee is advisory, not a new fire department or an independent body.

• The committee will have four councillors and three public members. The Mayor will be an ex-officio member (a member by virtue of office).
• At least one public member must have expertise in public safety, fire services, or emergency management and response. Other listed expertise areas include finance and capital planning, and risk management.
• The committee can receive reports and request reports from City staff. It will inform and approve an annual workplan for Council’s consideration and advise on fire-service planning, budgets, risks, service pressures, and major investments.
• Council directed staff to begin recruiting public members and to update recruitment materials and the skills matrix to reflect the bylaw amendment.
• Council directed that three meetings be included in the 2027 calendar for consideration at its October 20, 2026, organizational meeting. The report says the committee is expected to meet six times a year starting in mid-2027.

What it means for you#

• Residents: The committee creates a new Council forum for fire-service reports and advice. The decision does not itself change emergency response, fire prevention, or other services residents receive.
• Public-member applicants: City staff will start recruitment. The report describes areas of expertise sought, with at least one appointee required to have expertise in public safety, fire services, or emergency management and response.
• Councillors and City staff: Councillors will appoint members. City staff will provide committee support and may be asked to prepare reports.
• Fire Department and Fire Chief: The report says the committee does not change the Department’s structure or the Fire Chief’s authority, supervision, or communication protocols. Human-resource matters, including labour relations, are outside the committee’s scope.

Money#

A one-time budget request of $454,000 is to be included for Council’s consideration in the 2027–2030 budget process; Council did not approve that funding in this decision.

• The report estimates new operating costs of $221,000 in each of 2027 and 2028. It lists $6,000 a year for public-member pay and expenses, $140,000 a year for City Clerk support, and $75,000 a year for Fire Department strategic support.
• Those listed annual amounts total $442,000 over two years, which is $12,000 less than the $454,000 request. The materials do not explain the difference.
• The report says the workload will be assessed after two years.

What is unclear#

• The supplied material does not include the full bylaw or recruitment attachment, so it does not show details such as public-member terms, selection steps, or the exact meeting and reporting rules.
• The report describes six meetings a year from mid-2027, while Council directed that three meetings be included in the 2027 calendar for consideration. The materials do not explain how these figures fit together.
• The materials do not explain the $12,000 difference between the budget request and the listed two-year cost estimates.

Case for#

• City staff say fire-service calls rose 14% to more than 92,000 in 2025, while inspections rose 95% and the population grew 17%. A dedicated forum could give Council regular advice as service needs become more complex.
• The committee can request reports and discuss service levels, long-range planning, risks, and major investments. This could give Council a focused way to examine those issues.
• City staff say the committee is intended to increase transparency and accountability around a major City service.

Case against#

• City staff warn that the committee could duplicate existing Council reporting on budgets, capital plans, and quarterly updates, and could create conflicting timelines.
• Staff also identify a risk of confusion about responsibilities if the committee’s work overlaps with the Fire Chief’s authority. The bylaw says the committee is advisory, and the report says existing authority is unchanged, but future overlap may still need attention.
• City staff say the committee adds administrative workload and costs. They also note that other ways to increase visibility of fire services were not fully assessed.