Municipal political parties–what’s the deal?

Calgary’s 2025 municipal election is going to look a little different than previous ones. Why? Because for the first time in Alberta’s history, candidates for City Council will be able to run with political party affiliations. Read on to find out what this means for voters and for Calgary’s Future. 

What happened?

Towards the end of 2024, Alberta’s provincial government introduced legislation that allowed for the creation of municipal political parties.

We can trace this change back to a public survey that the provincial government opened to Albertans in the fall of 2023. The interesting thing? The results of this survey showed that Albertans were overwhelmingly against introducing political parties to municipal elections.

Why did the provincial government ignore public feedback about municipal political parties? 

For many Albertans, the government’s move to bring political parties into municipal politics came as a surprise. And not just because Albertans had responded against it in a public survey. 

In 2022, less than two years before she became premier, Danielle Smith was asked what she thought the best electoral system would be. She responded by describing a NON-PARTISAN municipal system where you “get elected as an independent”. 

And it’s true. Independent candidates encourage voters to evaluate each candidate’s unique platform without the judgement that comes from associating someone with a particular party. It also allows City Councillors to vote explicitly for what’s best for the communities in their ward, rather than parroting a party line. 

So, why the change of heart? Why make changes that we all agree will create worse outcomes?

In recent years, Calgary and Edmonton have elected mayors who are widely considered progressive. Take for example Naheed Nenshi and Jyoti Gondek in Calgary, and Don Iveson and Amarjeet Sohi in Edmonton. Their policies resonate with municipal voters, but Danielle Smith has described them as “in conflict to what it is we’re trying to do as a province”. 

Consider the way the provincial government politicized Calgary’s Green Line by first revoking funding and then pushing to take over the project. Consider also that when the City of Calgary pursued federal funding to build more affordable housing, the UCP imposed provincial screening for all municipal grants and funding that come from outside of Alberta. 

While the government and the UCP itself has postured strongly against what they describe as “overreach” by the federal government, they have no issue subverting the view of municipal voters. 

That’s where municipal political parties come into play. 

What do municipal political parties mean for voters in Calgary?

Historically, candidates in Calgary’s municipal elections ran on independent platforms and were not associated with political parties. As stated earlier, this independent approach comes with many democratic advantages. 

On the other hand, political parties force their members to vote according to certain predetermined policies. That means it’s more difficult for Councillors to advocate directly for residents when they’re at odds with party policies. Councillors have to abide by the ideological pressures that political parties impose.

In short, municipal political parties create a less democratic environment. 

Why would the provincial government want Calgary’s politics to be less democratic? 

Smith’s government has made it clear they aren’t happy with the democratically elected leadership in Alberta’s big cities. That’s why changes to the municipal election process are targeted at Calgary and Edmonton.

Partisan politics have a polarizing effect that replaces nuance and debate with “us or them” style rhetoric. Instead of building on common hopes and goals, voters are divided based on differences. What actually works becomes less important than political labels. The government seems to believe that this will deliver results they find more palatable.

Rather than trusting the wisdom of voters, introducing political parties to municipal elections is a way for the UCP to identify candidates that share their ideology. Sacrificing City Counsellors’ ability to advocate for their wards may not be the explicit goal, but it’s a trade the government is evidently willing to make.

What do municipal political parties mean for Calgary’s Future?

Calgary’s Future exists to make participating in local politics more accessible to everyday people. We want to encourage constructive, collaborative dialogue that’s focused on solutions for all Calgarians. 

Good ideas can come from anywhere and often don’t fit into ideological boxes. That’s why, by principle, Calgary’s Future is non-partisan. It’s also why Calgary’s Future is against municipal political parties. 

Calgarians deserve City Councillors who are responsive to the needs and priorities of the people in their wards and who are willing to debate and collaborate with their colleagues to achieve the best results for all of us. Municipal political parties just don’t deliver that. 

Municipal political parties create a more partisan political environment that reduces collaboration and meaningful conversation. But that doesn’t change the role that Calgary’s Future plays in advocating for real, pragmatic solutions that make life better for everyone who calls Calgary home.  

How will municipal political parties affect our candidate endorsement process?

Even though Calgary’s Future is against municipal political parties, it doesn’t change the way our candidate endorsement process works. 

Calgary’s Future has always been non-partisan and we will continue to be non-partisan–even with the introduction of municipal political parties. 

It doesn’t matter which party a candidate chooses to align themselves with. We will endorse candidates based on their platforms and how well those platforms align with the priorities and values of our supporters. 

It’s not about what “team” you’re on–it’s about how you plan to make our city better for the people who live here.

Together, let’s make our city better.