Calgary Faces $2.1B Cost to Halt Green Line LRT Amid Provincial Funding Dispute

Alberta government demands route changes, city officials warn of severe financial and employment impacts if project is paused.

The city has already spent over $1.3 billion on the Green Line LRT, with an additional $850 million estimated to wind down the project.
Alberta Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen has threatened to withdraw $1.53 billion in provincial funding unless the route is extended farther south and downtown tunnelling is removed.
Mayor Jyoti Gondek and city officials argue that pausing the project is untenable and would lead to over 1,000 job losses by the end of the year.
The dispute has become highly politicized, with former Mayor Naheed Nenshi, now leader of the Opposition NDP, blaming the provincial government for turning the project into a political issue.
The Calgary Construction Association has criticized the provincial decision, warning it undermines confidence in government funding for major infrastructure projects.