Fair entry program: for all Calgarians or just Canadians?

追加: 2026-05-25

[00:00:01]A suggestion by a Calgary city councelor on who should receive subsidized city programs is getting some push back.

[00:00:08]Iranian Reza Deki has been in Calgary for 3 years and says he used the fair entry program in his first year which helped him get settled in Canada. You know when you have some favor to some people they uh feel more uh lovely for you and if you have this some kind of this benefits for some people uh they care more about your the city. However, Ward 14 counselor Landon Johnston says the fair entry program meant to support lowincome residents should be looked at by the city to see who's using it and potentially limit city services to Canadian citizens only.

[00:00:49]>> If I had to pick between non-Canadians using a social service and a Canadian using a social service and determining if that's an a a finite resource, I would pick a Canadian over a non-Canadian. The city says 138,000 Calgarians qualified for the fair entry program in 2025, up nearly 25,000 from 2023, which helps subsidize the cost of transit, some Calgary recreational facilities, and other services across the city. Others, including W 8 counselor Nathan Schmidt, taking a different position than Johnston. And if they're living in our city, they're working here and using city services, then they're a member of the community like everybody else.

[00:01:36]>> You know what? If someone needs help, let's stop complaining about the problem and be part of the solution. Does it matter what country they were born in? I don't think so.

[00:01:48]>> This comes at a time when provincial social support programs and immigration policy will be part of October's referendum. Rain Rashid, City News, Calgary.