Bell: Calgary Mayor Farkas goes nuclear, trashes Danielle Smith big-time

Calgary’s mayor has criticized the province's decision to revoke some Edmonton housing rules, calling it a troubling attack on local democracy. Jeromy Farkas, the mayor of Calgary, expressed his concerns on Friday, stating that the government's order doesn't compel him to follow suit but raises the possibility of the province meddling in other matters. He emphasized the importance of respecting municipal leaders' authority to make decisions best for their citizens.

Farkas' remarks come after Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack retweeted a video of Farkas' concerns. The province's latest overreach has given Farkas the impression that Premier Danielle Smith is dictating to him how to vote at Calgary City Council. Refusing to comply could lead to Farkas losing his job, he said. While Farkas is open to working constructively with the province, even in areas of disagreement, he insists that both sides must be free to listen to residents and make fair decisions.

On October 8, 2026, Smith directed the City of Edmonton to scrap rules that permitted multi-unit complexes in older, established neighborhoods, citing potential issues with units not fitting well and inadequate parking space. Calgary had already reversed similar rules due to public backlash. In response, Smith directed Calgary to maintain its earlier decision.

The province claimed it wasn't seeking to interfere with municipal affairs, but the impact of multi-units and concerns from Edmonton residents prompted the intervention.