Calgary considering cutting permit fees, focusing on local procurement amid tariff threat

Calgary is outlining plans to help businesses in a trade war and officials are already sourcing non-American materials for major city projects.

With a possible trade war looming, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek outlined plans the city is considering to protect Calgarians and local businesses.

The city could reduce business permit fees and fast-track the permit approval process if tariffs and retaliatory measures go into effect, the mayor said Thursday.

“We must look at this as an opportunity to future-proof our economy and create some long-term stability,” Gondek said.

“We must ensure that we can rely more on Canadian-made goods by boosting local production, by improving trade agreements across provinces and diversifying trades with other countries.”

City administration has been requested to look at Calgary’s procurement bylaws and strategies to better support local, Canadian or non-American goods, the mayor announced.

That includes work already underway to source steel and other material needed for Calgary’s new event centre and for upcoming work on the Green Line.

“We are looking at all of our major projects. We’re figuring out how we could procure differently, perhaps more locally. But, again, we won’t know exactly what we need to do in terms of moving timelines or changing up projects until we have an understanding of the tariffs that may or may not be imposed,” Gondek said.

Next week, city officials are expected to provide an update on the potential impacts of a trade war on the city.

Representatives from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Calgary Economic Development will also speak to councillors on Tuesday about the possible effect on local business.

The mayor says a working group is also being established so that the city can hear directly from businesses and industries about how the municipality can support them in the event of a trade war.