Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness is advocating for the creation of a new advisory committee to oversee Calgary’s fire and protective services, arguing that it would enhance governance and strengthen the connection between elected officials and the local fire department.
Wyness announced she will bring a notice of motion to next Tuesday’s executive committee meeting, directing city administration to develop a bylaw, terms of reference, and budgetary requirements for establishing a Calgary Fire Services Committee. The goal is to have a report back to council’s executive committee by the end of this summer.
“It seems like for council, a lot of these issues only come up during budget time and I think that’s not fair to our emergency response,” Wyness said. “I want to make sure when council is giving direction, that the direction is actually getting accomplished and council can keep a line of sight on achieving the goals we set out for our fire department.”
The proposed committee would meet regularly to discuss fire service-related matters, including capital and operational needs, response times, and other performance metrics. Wyness highlighted that as Calgary continues to grow in population and size, the fire department has faced numerous challenges, such as meeting response time targets, aging equipment, rising procurement costs for new fire trucks, and the need for additional fire halls in new communities.
“We’re falling behind in building fire stations throughout the city and we’ve had some complications around our joint-use sites, which is leading to delays in opening stations that provide safety to our communities,” Wyness said.
Medical-related responses now account for approximately half of the fire department’s calls-for-service, adding another layer of complexity. Wyness noted that while Calgary’s population has increased by roughly 25 percent since 2018, the fire department’s calls for service have surged by more than 50 percent since the start of this decade. Despite operational funding increases approved by council, the fire department’s budget, when adjusted for inflation, has risen only 0.7 percent from 2018 to 2024, according to her motion. The CFD’s operating budget this year is slightly over $360 million, representing about eight percent of the city’s operating expenses.
Idea Inspired by Police Commission
Wyness said the concept for the fire services committee was inspired by the Calgary police commission, an independent governance body that includes representation from the police, council, and the public. However, she emphasized that her motion intentionally avoids replicating that structure, as commissions provide more independent oversight. Wyness serves as one of council’s representatives on the police commission.
“I think a committee structure is more appropriate for the fire department, given its unique operational needs and the direct line of sight we need to maintain,” she explained.
The motion is expected to be debated at the executive committee meeting next week, with a potential vote on whether to proceed with the development of the committee.
