Why Calgary Must Prioritize Infrastructure Maintenance—Before It's Too Late

As Calgary continues to grow, so does the pressure on the vital infrastructure that supports our everyday lives—from roads and transit systems to water mains and recreational facilities. Yet for years, our focus on growth and expansion has come at the expense of adequately reinvesting in the infrastructure we already have.

It’s time to change that.

The True Cost of Underfunding Maintenance

The City of Calgary’s 2020 Infrastructure Status Report revealed a stark reality: a growing proportion of our infrastructure assets are in “poor” or “very poor” condition. At that time, the estimated infrastructure gap was $7.73 billion, representing the value of unfunded infrastructure investment needs over the next 10 years.

However, this figure is now outdated. Considering the cumulative inflation from 2020 to 2024, which averaged around 3.8% annually, the real value of the infrastructure gap has increased significantly. Moreover, Calgary's population has grown rapidly, with an estimated addition of 69,000 residents between April 2023 and April 2024 alone—one of the most significant annual increases in the city's history.

This population surge places additional strain on our infrastructure, accelerating wear and tear and increasing the demand for services. Without timely and prioritized reinvestment, we risk service interruptions, public safety concerns, and escalating costs down the road. A lesson that became painfully evident last summer.

The Funding Disconnect

Our current funding approach doesn’t reflect the urgency or the scale of the problem. Historically, one-time funding decisions have been biased toward new growth rather than reinvestment in existing infrastructure. At the same time, inflation, rapid population growth, and reduced intergovernmental transfers have eroded our ability to keep pace.

Layer on a 20-year tax shift from non-residential to residential property taxpayers, and the result is resistance to tax increases that has hamstrung our ability to invest in maintaining core services. What we’re left with is a system that reacts to failure rather than prevents it.

Better Data = Smarter Decisions

To truly prioritize infrastructure maintenance, we to better understand the condition of our assets. That means investing in robust condition assessments and linking that data directly to funding strategies.

Right now, the Infrastructure Status Report provides a valuable high-level snapshot, but we need to evolve it into a more dynamic tool that helps align investment with risk, service levels, and community impact. Without this, we’re flying blind.

A Smarter Path Forward

That’s why I’ve brought forward a Notice of Motion to Council that calls for the creation of a dedicated Infrastructure Reinvestment Program. This program would:

• Identify stable, long-term funding sources, including utility rates, grants, and reprioritized project dollars.
• Benchmark our practices against leading municipalities like Edmonton, which has a Dedicated Renewal Fund.
• Establish clear criteria for reinvestment decisions based on risk, condition, and strategic alignment.
• Match reinvestment with redevelopment opportunities, reducing costs and disruptions.
• Report regularly on progress, outcomes, and funding gaps.
• Explore cost-sharing with other orders of government, backed by economic benefit analysis.

Crucially, this motion also proposes doubling the annual property tax contribution to lifecycle maintenance from 2.6% to 5%. It’s a bold but necessary step to reverse decades of underinvestment and ensure future generations aren’t burdened with even steeper costs.

This Is About More Than Infrastructure

Reinvestment isn’t just a technical or budgetary issue—it’s a commitment to delivering reliable public services, protecting public safety, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. When infrastructure fails, it’s not just concrete and pipes that break down—it’s trust in our ability to manage a growing, modern city.

Calgarians deserve infrastructure that works—now and into the future. Let’s make sure we take care of what we’ve already built, with the same urgency and ambition that we apply to building what comes next.

This Notice of Motion will be at Council on May 27th: