UPDATED: Calgary city council to be asked to defer nearly $900 million in budget allocations including Scotia Place

On Tuesday, Calgary city council approved a report from Corporate Planning and Financial Services (CPFS) recommending that almost $900 million in 2025 capital spending, including $294.5 million for the Scotia Place Event Centre, be deferred, moving the funds to 2027 and even further down the road. 

The CPFS report says the changes would move the 2025 capital budget spending to the area of $2.4 billion, adding the changes would also see adjustments to the 2026 capital budget to the tune of a $102-million reduction. 

In a report to council Tuesday, CPFS wrote, “Every year, The City adjusts its capital and operating budgets through the Budget Adjustment Process. As part of this process, the capital budget recast provides an opportunity to right-size annually allocated capital budgets to better align them with anticipated spending.” 

“While the capital budget recast is typically part of the annual budget adjustments process, it was not included in the Mid-Cycle Adjustments report approved by Council in 2024 November as additional time was required to ensure that the revised 2025 capital budget better reflected expected spending for the year.” 

“The net result of the recast is a total of $893 million reduced from the 2025 capital budget and moved into future years, bringing the expected 2025 capital budget to $2.4 billion before 2024 carry forwards.” 

Funding for Scotia Place would then move $106.9 million into 2026 and $183.6 million to 2027 to match the timing of project tendering and the construction schedule, says the report, with the completion date of the event centre still targetted by 2027’s third quarter. 

The CPFS report includes referring an additional $165 million targetted for water and waste water projects, with a reduction if $102 million to moved into 2026. 

The report also says the changes would “more accurately reflect timing of anticipated city spending,” with deferrals attributed to acquiring land expediently and procurement limitations which would cause delays. 

The reports’ largest recommendation is the deferral of approximately $296 million set side for a community shuttle bus budget project, moving spending for it from 2026 into 2027 and 2028. 

The cost for Scotia Place is estimated at $800 million shared between the city and Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, with the city contributing $515 million or 56% of the upfront costs. The final cost of the entire project, which includes a parkade, is projected at $926 million. 

The Alberta government is adding $330 million to the project to cover a community rink and demolition of the Saddledome. 

Additionally, the proposed budget recast includes $165.9 million of deferred spending for water infrastructure to take into account changed timelines, including delayed spending on water distribution, wastewater treatment and collection infrastructure, due to “unforeseen circumstances” says the report. 

 “The goal is to have budgets more accurately reflect the expected spending plans. This ensures that capital investments are effectively managed while addressing organizational capacity constraints and competing priorities.

The presentation added budget recasts do not lead to any reductions in approved budgets.