Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek is pushing back against the Alberta government’s tight deadline for approving the city’s revised Green Line LRT project, raising concerns about financial risks and fairness to Calgarians.

Speaking to reporters, Gondek expressed frustration with the province’s approach, saying, “We’ve been able to re-engage with this government at all kinds of points in time and get them back towards a negotiation. This simply spells out for the public and for all of us what we are going to do when we get back to that negotiation table.”

The city’s approved version of the $6.2-billion Green Line project originally called for a tunnelled downtown segment. But the Alberta government overhauled that version, insisting on a more cost-effective elevated stretch in the city.

The dispute between the city and province has been viewed as largely political, rather than financial, and has caught many commercial real estate projects tied to the Green Line caught in the crossfire. One major component, a downtown terminus station on the former Eau Claire Market site, is in danger of being scrapped as a result of the province’s route revision.

The city’s analysis, based on a confidential report from consultant AECOM, revealed $1.3 billion in additional costs and risks in the province’s alignment proposal, pushing the estimated cost to $7.5 billion—higher than the city’s $7.2-billion design unveiled in July 2024.

The timeline to meet funding conditions is tight. The federal government’s $1.53-billion contribution hinges on approvals being finalized by March 31, 2025.

Wendy Tynan, executive-director of public affairs for the Green Line, explained the urgency: “Our last window to retain the $1.53-billion commitment from the feds out of this existing fund is to have it approved by Mar. 31, and that was made clear,” the Canadian Press quoted her as saying.

City council debated the province’s alignment on Tuesday, emphasizing the stakes of moving forward. Coun. Dan McLean warned that pushing back could jeopardize the project, according to the Canadian Press.

However, Coun. Courtney Walcott argued for transparency, contending that the province was telling city what to do and foot the bill, CP reported.

Mayor Gondek stressed the city’s position that both parties must share the financial and legal risks of the project.

“We were the lead partner previously. We can’t keep stepping into that position,” Gondek told reporters. “It’s our obligation, our responsibility to Calgarians, to make sure that we are managing their money wisely.”

Provincial Transportation Minister Deven Dreeshen has countered that the revised route is better for commuters and the Green Line is a city project to which the province remains committed. He pledged to work “expeditiously” with the city.

The province released a heavily redacted version of the AECOM report after saying that it would not make the document public for commercial reasons.

Negotiations will continue under the Reimagined Green Line Working Group, with both sides racing to meet the federal government’s deadline while attempting to avoid further costs to taxpayers.

Rendering: Calgary Green Line LRT