Latest Council Votes & Notices of Motion - May 27, 2026

A lot has happened at Council over the past couple of weeks. Below, I’ve shared how I voted on several key decisions.

Council did not make a final decision on the Free Fare Zone (FFZ). Instead, we voted to defer the decision so it will be considered as part of a broader review of transit fares in 2027.

This was a choice between acting quickly on Administration’s recommendation to remove the FFZ or taking more time to get a fuller picture and more buy-in to not outright eliminate it.

The option Council ultimately supported was to defer the decision and include the FFZ in a comprehensive review of fares across the entire transit system. That means we will look at how the FFZ fits into the bigger picture — alongside ridership, cost, public safety, and how people actually use transit — before making a final call.

Council voted on a series of amendments related to deferring the decision and next steps:

• Amendment 1 – Defer the Free Fare Zone vote to Q1 2027 as part of the comprehensive fare review process already underway: Passed 9–6
• Amendment 2 – Explore the feasibility of moving responsibility for the FFZ from Transit to the Downtown Team for ongoing operations and budgeting as part of the Downtown Strategy: Failed 7–8
• Amendment 3 – Undertake additional engagement with stakeholders in the Downtown including businesses, organizations, and arts organizations: Passed 8–7
• Amendment 4 – Continue efforts to secure new sponsorship partners for the FFZ and report back at the September 9 Infrastructure and Planning Committee Meeting: Passed 10–5

I voted in favour of all four.

I have been clear that I do not support eliminating the Free Fare Zone. It is something that Calgarians and many Ward 8 residents rely on and support. At the same time, I do not believe Administration’s recommendation to remove it was strong or well-supported.

It was also clear that there was a significant risk that Council was going to vote to remove it, citing public safety issues and costs. As a result, I undertook significant work with several of my colleagues to try and find a path forward. My goal throughout has been to keep transit accessible and affordable while promoting public safety with a purpose, addressing root causes rather than making reactive decisions to symptoms. The amendments before us offered a path to keep the FFZ in place for now and ensure it is considered as part of a full fare review and not just cut on a whim.

That is why I supported deferring the decision.

This was not about choosing the perfect outcome. It was about making sure we get to a better one. By taking more time, doing the work, and looking at the full picture, we give ourselves the best chance to make a decision that reflects both the value of the FFZ and the needs of our entire transit system.

Finally, I take issue with the information presented to us in Council. I do not believe eliminating the FFZ will result in better public safety outcomes, as those who want to eliminate it have stated. In fact, there is some indication getting rid of it will cause the issues seen most acutely around our C-Train stations to spread into Ward 8 neighbourhoods like the Beltline. As I said in my debate, this is completely unfair to those residents to push social disorder to their doorsteps.

Real solutions to public safety issues will result from initiatives like our new strategy Safer Together, which passed 10-4 in the same Council meeting. Safer Together gives us a concrete plan to address public safety and its root causes, which is the only way we will succeed in keeping residents and businesses safe while helping those suffering from mental health and addictions.

We will not make Calgarians safer by taking away something we value, we will make Calgarians safer by doing the hard work required to meaningfully address public safety.

Next week, I'll share detailed explanations behind the votes on both Safer Together and the Downtown Police Station Needs Assessment. Be sure to check back, as this page will be refreshed with the full story and key insights.

My team and I are still working to launch a Vote Tracker page, similar to this one, which will outline my thinking behind each vote. The goal is to provide greater transparency and help Ward 8 residents better understand how and why decisions are made at Council.

If you have any questions, please contact my office by email at ward8@calgary.ca.

Sincerely,
Nathaniel Schmidt
City of Calgary Ward 8 Councillor 
Calgary.ca/Ward8