💰 City Committee to vote Wednesday on new sprawl community requiring $582.7-million in public subsidy

The proposed new community of "Providence" is being pitched to Calgary City Council as "a logical choice for sensible growth" despite over half a billion dollars in unfunded capital infrastructure investments required from taxpayers to support the development. 

This Wednesday, March 11th, city council members will debate whether to recommend approval of a new sprawl community named "Providence" - west of the southwest ring road and north of Highway 22X. The cost of new capital infrastructure required to support this new community at full build out is estimated at over $550M. Spending of the first tranche of funds (enabling infrastructure, including a brand new major water infrastructure expansion) is slated for 2028, but would swallow up a good portion of the city's 2026-2030 capital budget. 

💸Calgary can't afford to spread resources even thinner

With the potential rezoning repeal on the horizon, Calgary needs citywide gentle density more than ever so that growth can be absorbed within our existing footprint. According to the independent report on the Bearspaw South Feedermain, decades of sprawl “exacerbated the risk and integrity challenges that ultimately affected the [Bearspaw South Feedermain]”. As a result, Calgary taxpayers are burdened with more kilometres of pipe per resident than any other large Canadian peer city. Calgarians can't afford to double down on spreading resources even thinner over more new communities.

Source: Bearspaw South Feedermain Independent Review Panel: Final Report | January 6, 2026

🚧 Calgary is facing a $49-billion infrastructure crisis

The Bearspaw water feeder failure is just the tip of the iceberg. Today, Calgary faces a more than $49-billion infrastructure bill for aging roads, public transit, wastewater infrastructure and more over the next decade.

Approving new sprawl communities like Providence with their own new infrastructure needs or fully repealing citywide rezoning would be financially reckless of City Council. It would be willfully entrenching the status quo conditions that led to this crisis where you are being asked to take 3 minute showers and not flush your toilet, yet again.

Citywide, community-focused, gentle density is needed to increase housing options.

⚡️ TAKE ACTION: Help us ask City Council to hit pause on new sprawl communities 

📨 Email City Council

Email City Council and ask them to vote against approving the proposed new community of Providence and to hit pause on new sprawl communities until Calgary can get its crumbling infrastructure crisis under control. In the current housing crisis, Calgary must build new housing within its existing footprint. Council must support citywide rezoning for community-focused gentle density (partial repeal or no repeal of rezoning) so we can preserve the billion dollars in federal funding for infrastructure and housing, address Calgary's aging infrastructure crisis and provide more affordable housing options citywide.

🎤 Sign up to speak at the March 11 Infrastructure and Planning Committee meeting

Members of the public who wish to speak at this meeting (either in person or remotely) may request to do so using this form and reference Item Number 7.3.

🎤 Sign up to speak at the March 23 public hearing on the proposed repeal of rezoning

You can participate in the public hearing and/or make a written submission to City Council on the proposed repeal of the Rezoning for Housing Bylaw using the City Clerk's Office online form before March 23, 2026.

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