Provincial, federal leaders decry ‘fun police’ in Calgary as councillor pitches Stampede noise bylaw reversal

City council will debate whether to repeal a noise bylaw during the Calgary Stampede. The move has federal and provincial leaders decrying "the fun police."

A showdown over Calgary Stampede concert noise, amplified by Alberta’s premier and other politicians, will head back to city hall on Tuesday where a notice of motion will seek to reverse a contentious bylaw update.

Ward 1 Coun. Kim Tyers is set to introduce a motion to amend the noise exemption rules to again allow Stampede concerts and events to run until 1 a.m. on weeknights with so-called cool-down music for half an hour beyond that.

“Recent administrative adjustments to Noise Exemption Permits, including reduced allowable decibel levels, have created operational challenges for festival organizers and raised concerns from industry partners regarding feasibility and reputational impact,” the notice of motion reads.

The motion comes after politicians from all levels of government urged the City of Calgary to rethink its updated noise regulations that call for outdoor concerts to end by midnight with cool-down music permissible until 12:30 a.m.

Under the new rules, allowable bass and volume limits are five decibels lower this year than last year, too.

“We need to strike a balance,” Mayor Jeromy Farkas told CTV News.

“We need to treat downtown just like any other neighborhood. And if you were to come blast loud music at 3 or 4 a.m. in the middle of a suburban neighborhood, you’d certainly have a lot of people picking up the call and you’d want the city to respond.

“This is all about fairness.”

If passed, Tyers’ motion would also require the city work with event organizers to implement measures to address social disorder around festival sites and review the noise exemption rules for events in the future.

Politicians sound off

The noise issue ramped up over the weekend with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and federal Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre among the politicians to criticize the rule changes.

“Looks like the fun police have struck again in Calgary, this time targeting the Calgary Stampede music scene,” Smith wrote on social media.

“By reducing allowable noise levels and shutting shows down early on weeknights, the city will negatively affect hundreds of workers and create additional public safety and crowd-management problems due to guests leaving in a shorter timeframe,” Smith said.

Poilievre, who was raised in Calgary, also took to social media to blast the new sound limits, calling out “city hall gatekeepers.”

“Millions flock to the Stampede because IT IS FUN to stay up late and listen to loud music. That brings nearly a billion dollars in tourism and excitement for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth,” Poilievre wrote.

“Hopefully, City Hall will let this 30-year-old music event continue as it has in years past and grow.”