Summary#

Calgary City Council approved the Business-Friendly Construction Policy, CP2026-05, on March 31, 2026. It sets objectives to guide how the City considers business needs and customer access during City-led construction; City staff say the goal is to apply these approaches more consistently while still delivering safe, effective projects.

• The policy focuses on planning with nearby businesses in mind, assessing and mitigating impacts, giving timely information, keeping communication open, maintaining safe public access, and supporting business-area vitality. The available report describes these as aims “where possible,” not guaranteed results.
• Council also directed City staff to explore whether parts of the policy could apply to third-party utility work on City-initiated capital projects, and to report back in the 2026 Q3/Q4 Infrastructure Insights Report.
• City staff say they will discontinue the Main Streets Business Support Grant and focus on broader, area-based supports instead. Council approved the policy and received the report; the grant decision is described in the report as a City staff action.
• The policy does not promise businesses compensation or that construction disruption will be avoided.

What it means for you#

• Businesses near City construction: The City’s approach is meant to guide planning, communication, access measures and other supports. Examples in the report include temporary customer parking, wayfinding and area promotions. The policy does not guarantee any particular measure for a project or business.
• Businesses that received or might seek the Main Streets grant: City staff say the pilot grant will end. The report says it was not legally required compensation; the decision does not create a new right to payment.
• Customers: The policy aims to keep public access around construction safe, accessible and easy to follow. It does not guarantee that access or convenience will be unaffected.
• Utility companies: City staff must explore whether policy elements could be adapted to utility work on City-initiated capital projects. The direction is to explore and report, not to require utilities to follow the policy.

Money#

The City plans to include construction measures in project budgets and identify additional funding for broader business-area supports, but no cost estimate is available.

• Starting in the 2027–2030 Service Plan and Budget Cycle, project budgets are to incorporate business-friendly construction measures. The report also says additional budget will be identified, including for contributions to Business Improvement Areas.
• The former pilot grant was $5,000. The report gives no total pilot cost or estimate of savings from ending it.
• No estimate is provided for staffing, training, area supports or utility-related work.

What is unclear#

• The full policy text is not included in the supplied material, so its exact wording, limits and how it applies to individual projects could not be verified.
• The report does not set out project-by-project decision rules, minimum support levels, timelines, a complaint or appeal process, or what happens if a planned measure is not delivered.
• The report says policy progress will be monitored using performance measures, with progress reporting beginning in 2027. It does not specify the measures or whether public reporting will show results for individual projects.
• The utility direction covers exploration only; what, if anything, will change for utility work depends on the report back.

Case for#

• City staff say construction impacts cannot be fully avoided, but planning, communication and access measures can help businesses continue operating and customers reach them.
• The policy draws on engagement with 1,220 participants, including businesses, customers and construction-industry partners. The engagement summary says participants emphasized early information, ongoing communication, access and convenience.
• City staff say the grant pilot missed its stated purpose: 71 per cent of businesses reported using the funds for general operating costs, while about one-third used them for intended business-led initiatives. Area-wide supports may reach more businesses, according to staff.

Case against#

• CFIB supported the policy’s direction but argued that businesses can still face losses during prolonged construction. It called for direct financial help for businesses with significant losses.
• CFIB also said the policy’s commitments need measurable standards and public performance indicators. Without clear measures, it may be hard to judge whether supports are working.
• The policy aims to reduce disruption, but the report cautions that construction impacts cannot be fully avoided. Businesses may therefore receive no direct compensation even when disruption remains substantial.