Council Update: Repeal of City-Wide Rezoning & City of Calgary Flag Policy

At the December 15 Regular Meeting of Council, members considered several items that drew significant public interest and community discussion. These included changes to the City’s approach to residential zoning, as well as updates to the policy governing national flags on City property.

In the spirit of transparency and accountability, this update is intended to explain what was decided, outline the context behind each decision, and share the reasoning that guided Councillor Yule's votes.

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Notice of Motion: Repeal of Blanket Rezoning (Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 Amendments Implementing City-Wise Residential Rezoning) EC2025-0995 

Motion Carried: 13-2 | Vote: Yes

During my time door-knocking in Ward 3, I heard directly from residents about their concerns with city-wide (or “blanket”) rezoning. On December 15, City Council, including myself, voted to begin the process of repealing blanket rezoning and to move toward smarter, more targeted approaches to deliver the range of housing our city needs. After a year of development under city-wide rezoning, we now have a clearer understanding of what worked, what didn’t, and how we can make more thoughtful decisions around how we renew our communities.

What is Rezoning? 

Zoning determines what types of housing can be built on land across Calgary. The map below shows the city’s previous zoning: yellow areas allowed only single-family homes to be built, while green areas permitted other types of housing. Building a duplex in a yellow area previously required applying for a land use change, which took both time and money to do.

Rezoning was introduced to help speed up home construction timelines. Since nearly all land use change requests were approved by Council, automatic approval offered some advantages. The goal was to increase density (rather than continue expanding Calgary’s footprint outward), making services and infrastructure more affordable, reducing administrative red tape, and boosting housing supply and diversity to meet the city’s growing needs. The flip side is that one size rarely fits all, and some of the tensions and resistances we’ve seen in communities clearly shows there is room to refine our approach and achieve better outcomes.

How does Rezoning affect Ward 3?  

In Ward 3, city-wide rezoning has not changed how our communities are currently being built. Most of our neighbourhoods, particularly those developed after 2013, were planned with mixed-density zoning (R-G) throughout, supporting a balanced variety of housing type and choice. Any townhouses or duplexes you see here have gone through a land use change application and received Council approval.

That said, I understand that while Ward 3 is still a relatively young community and not yet ready for older homes to be redeveloped, residents want confidence and clarity going forward about the neighbourhoods they choose to call home may change.

Below is a ward-level breakdown showing that rezoning has been concentrated almost entirely in inner-city and established areas, with zero housing units being built under this bylaw in Ward 3.

Is Blanket Rezoning finished?

Not yet. City Council voted 13–2, with me in favour, to begin the process of repealing Blanket Rezoning. This vote started the work required to change the bylaw, but it does not repeal it on its own.

What happens next?

To fully repeal Blanket Rezoning, Council must hold another Public Hearing. This includes citywide advertising, resident notification, and a public hearing where residents can speak directly to Council. In January 2026, City Administration will confirm a date for the March Public Hearing. In the lead-up to that hearing, my office will be engaging directly with Ward 3 residents to gather feedback and answer questions. (Sign up for the Ward 3 Newsletter to stay informed as details are shared.)

Ahead of the March Public Hearing, City Administration has also been directed to prepare amendments to the current zoning bylaw to reintroduce the original 12 land-use districts. This work will include an infrastructure assessment and updates to parking rules related to private property.

What needs to be considered before final repeal?

Rezoning brought benefits, particularly in time and cost savings. Over the past year, without city-wide rezoning, Council would have needed to hear approximately 460 separate land use change applications and public hearings - each costing the City roughly $50,000. That’s a significant cost to taxpayers, and any new approach must consider ways to avoid losing those efficiencies.

Will this change or compromise Federal funding opportunities?  

No. Mayor Farkas has confirmed with Federal representatives that the Housing Accelerator Fund compliance is based on outcomes, not utilizing a single tool like Rezoning.  

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Notice of Motion: Amending The City of Calgary Flag Policy CP2016-07, EC2025-1029

Motion Passed: 8-7 | Vote: No

Council approved a Notice of Motion to amend the City of Calgary’s flag-raising policy, effectively removing the current protocol for flying international flags on the community flagpole in the municipal plaza. The motion passed 8-7. I voted against this motion.

The municipal plaza at City Hall belongs to all Calgarians. Over the years, raising flags here has become a way to celebrate diversity, recognize communities, and show that everyone has a place in our city. Sometimes it has sparked debate, but respectful discussion is a natural part of living in a vibrant, diverse community.

Calgary has a long history of raising flags to reflect our diversity. In the 1960s, discussions occurred around the appropriateness of raising the Irish flag for St. Patrick’s Day. In 1972, Mayor Rod Sykes raised the Ukrainian flag to mark their ‘Independence Day,’ even though Ukraine was still part of the Soviet Union. And in 1982, then-Mayor Ralph Klein explained that the purpose of the pole outside City Hall was to ‘display the flags of various nations that have been oppressed.’ He went on to raise the South Vietnam flag in honour of the refugees who had settled in Calgary following the Vietnam War.

These gestures are not just symbolic, they honor the people and communities that make Calgary what it is and affirm that everyone has a place here.

During debate, we heard from Administration that there is no historical data to imply that flag raisings have ever caused problems. In decades of practice, and specifically over the last five years, there have been no complaints or incidents requiring security or police intervention. Even when counter-protests have occurred, they have been peaceful and respectful.

Councillor Dhaliwal summed it up well: these small celebrations are important for communities to recognize both their culture and their contributions to Calgary. Councillor Chabot reminded us that Calgary has a long tradition of raising flags, going back to World War II when we honoured allied forces that trained here. Noting that we have mechanisms in place to prevent conflicts or controversies. Councillor Atkinson also made an important point: in a democratic society, we can - and should - disagree respectfully. Different opinions don’t have to lead to exclusion or erasure, and discourse around differing beliefs or viewpoints can be generative in better understanding on another.

Before this motion, we had a clear protocol for flying international flags, giving communities a predictable and transparent process. Now, that decision will rest solely with the Mayor’s Office, removing that structure.

Calgary has always been a tapestry of different nations, and City Hall should mirror that diversity. Our municipal plaza is the people’s plaza, and the people should be reflected within it.

For all of these reasons, I could not support this motion.