We fought. We Won. And We’re Not Done.

Black Lives Matter march in Calgary, June 3, 2020. Photo credit: Jon Yee

Good news!

Yesterday, Calgary City Council voted to reallocate 5% of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) budget to fund a new Community Safety Investment Framework. The move will direct City administration to develop a Community Safety Investment Framework that addresses gaps in:

crisis services for individuals, their families and support networks;
outreach services; and
the emergency response system in Calgary, including any gaps in racially and culturally appropriate services.

Administration will report back to Council about reallocating funds from the base police budget to support this framework. You can read the whole text here.

Yesterday, Defund2Fund requested community support, and you sprung into action! In a matter of hours, supporters flooded Council with passionate emails and calls urging them to support this motion. Thanks to your advocacy, nine members of council voted in favour, with only five opposing votes.

Who voted for what?

The motion was sponsored by Mayor Nenshi, Councillor Wooley, Councillor Carra, and Councillor Chahal. Councillors Davison, Farrell, Gondek, Keating, and Sutherland also voted in favour.

Votes opposing the motion were cast by Councillors Chu, Colley-Urquhart, Demong, Farkas and Magliocca.

CPS Budget Reallocation to Community Safety Investment Framework - City Council Vote Results

What's next?

City Administration will report back this month with a developed framework, as well as a plan to fund the new framework with reallocated funds from the base Calgary Police budget— up to $10 million in 2021, and another $10 million in 2022.

The upcoming budget deliberations will be contentious, and your voice is still needed to make sure that funds are directed to the things that matter— like keeping Calgarians housed, healthy, and safe, with the right supports in place to deal with crises and support inclusive and resilient communities. Please note that budget documentation will be released on November 9, and deliberations will begin on November 23. Watch the Defund2Fund blog for information and analysis of these budget documents once they have been released.

We expect Administration to develop the following CPS budget during the November budget discussions, based on CPS’ confirmed 2020 budget and recent Council vote:

(Thousands)	2021*	2022
CPS Base Expenditure (Net)	$401,436	$391,436
Proposed Reallocation	$10,000	$10,000
CPS Adjusted Base Expenditure	$391,436	$381,436
Change from 2020	2.5%	5.0%
References:
Calgary Service Plans and Budgets 2019-2022	pg. 261
Calgary Annual Report 2019	pg. 16
CPS Commitment to Anti-Racism, Equity & Inclusion (September 2020)	pg. 20

*In September 2020, the CPS committed to reallocate resources from its existing budget [i.e. 2020 budget of $401,436] to communities. As a result, the CPS have committed to reallocate funds from their existing 2020 budget of $401,436, rather than taking into account any planned increases in future budgets.

Council needs to hear what's important to you come budget time.

You have proven that your voices matter on this file. We need to keep working together to voice our support for the reallocation of CPS Funds and for the Community Safety Investment Framework. Please sign our petition and register to speak at the budget meeting beginning November 23rd by sending an email to [email protected]

This is a first step in beginning to address systemic barriers in the lives of Black, Indigenous, other racialized communities and 2SLGBTQ+ people. We call on City Council to implement this modest reallocation during the November budget discussions and do more to support vulnerable communities. We expect that members of our coalition and other key community organizations will be consulted as a part of this process.

The Defund2Fund Coalition is a diverse collection of Calgarians—made up of Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, Non-People of Colour and 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and individuals—who share a vision of a more resilient, more just Calgary. We represent approximately 15 groups and nearly 2,000 Calgarians who support a reduction of the CPS budget by 30%, to be reallocated throughout our communities. We have published detailed research on why we must defund the police and fund our communities now.

We Need Your Help!

You can help effect change for safer communities in Calgary.

1. Sign the petition

Add your name to the list of supporters for reallocating a portion of the Calgary Police Service budget to reinvest in our communities.