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8h ago

Calgary Mayoral Front-Runners Clash on Safety and Spending at Chamber Debate

With advance voting open, candidates offered stark policy contrasts on policing, small business and provincial relations.

There were some spicy exchanges as the top candidates to be the next mayor of Calgary squared off in a debate on Wednesday, hosted by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor candidates L-R, Sonya Sharp, Jeremy Farkas, Jyoti Gondek Jeff Davison and Brian Thiessen pose for a picture after a mayor debate at the Jack Singer in Calgary on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. Darren Makowichuk/Postmedia
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Overview

  • The Calgary Chamber of Commerce hosted a debate at the Werklund Centre featuring Jyoti Gondek, Jeromy Farkas, Sonya Sharp, Jeff Davison and Brian Thiessen, moderated by chamber CEO Deborah Yedlin.
  • Polling leader Jeromy Farkas promoted a public-safety plan to reopen a downtown police station, boost police and transit officers, and press for tougher sentencing and bail, while pledging to keep partisan politics and separatism rhetoric out of City Hall.
  • Incumbent Jyoti Gondek defended her record on the events centre, the Green Line and housing, citing an integrated response model and a new bylaw banning open drug use with referrals to community court.
  • Sonya Sharp called for hiring 500 police officers and opening a 24/7 downtown station, said her proposal is backed by the Calgary Police Association, and highlighted construction disruptions for small businesses.
  • Jeff Davison promised a four-year tax freeze and criticized council’s pace on safety and permitting, while Brian Thiessen attacked Premier Danielle Smith’s approach to Calgary and proposed Housing First, 24/7 integrated mental‑health units and modernization of city water infrastructure.