Former prime minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s Liberals had tied this cash to blanket rezoning. They bribed cities to remake themselves in an image invented by federal bureaucrats.<\/p>\n
Ex-mayor Jyoti Gondek and her council happily approved.<\/p>\n
But the great majority of Calgarians didn\u2019t like it.<\/p>\n
In the civic election, Farkas promised to get rid of the plan that approved multiplex dwellings everywhere, without council oversight.<\/p>\n
He succeeded with the support of his new council.<\/p>\n
Related<\/p>\n
But what about that federal cash?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was always some consistent debate over whether the housing accelerator money was contingent on that decision,\u201d the mayor said in an interview.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to finally put that question to bed.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we\u2019re not limited to one blunt tool like the blanket rezoning. This is really about more homes and fewer barriers, not more fights with the feds or the community or the provincial government.\u201d<\/p>\n
Farkas says Premier Danielle Smith and Assisted Living Minister Jason Nixon were a big help in dealing with Ottawa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is certainly a validation of their approach with the federal government \u2014 asserting ourselves but also wanting to partner.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOttawa, to their credit, showed flexibility. They focused on results. That\u2019s what good partnership looks like. This is respect for the will of Calgarians.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a good opportunity to meet with Minister (Gregor) Robertson and Prime Minister (Mark) Carney on a recent trip to Ottawa to make the case, and now the results are there for us.<\/p>\n
\u201cCalgary isn\u2019t just talking about housing. We\u2019re building it. While others are debating this, we\u2019re building the needed housing.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/2356ba011f05043d7aff85dff2742eb7.jpeg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Rows of new homes under construction are shown on the northeast edge of Calgary on April 15, 2024.<\/p>\n
The best example of Farkas\u2019 style came in February when the province levied a huge increase in education property tax on Calgary<\/a>, after council had kept the city increase to 1.2 per cent.<\/p>\n The mayor was furious. He called the increase \u201canother version of equalization\u201d aimed at using Calgarians\u2019 taxes to benefit the rest of the province.<\/p>\n \u201cIf we\u2019re going to rail against equalization at the federal level, then we can\u2019t keep doing the same thing to our municipalities,\u201d he fumed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe UCP has hiked property taxes by 57 per cent in four years.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir latest 21 per cent increase represents about $339 more per Calgary household.<\/p>\n \u201cBy contrast, Edmonton homeowners will only pay $154 more.\u201d<\/p>\n The province pushed back hard, noting huge amounts spent in the city. Smith said the tax will be directly invested in schools and infrastructure.<\/p>\n That was a major blow-up. You\u2019d think blood would boil in both camps for months.<\/p>\n