EXCLUSIVE: Premier Smith could override Farkas on Music Crackdown, issues stern warning
Party poopers are on notice. Haphazardly suffocating stampede celebrations with red-tape is not going to fly if Danielle Smith has anything to say about it. Unfortunately for City Hall, she does.
Late Monday afternoon, Premier Danielle Smith and her cabinet issued a scathing letter to Calgary City Hall, putting the administration officially on notice, following their sudden noise bylaw changes targeting Stampede music festivals.
“We are writing regarding the City of Calgary’s recent decision to implement new noise bylaw restrictions affecting Stampede music festivals and entertainment venues, including reduced allowable noise levels and earlier weeknight closing requirements,” it reads.
“With additional public safety resources being deployed and significant concerns being raised by businesses, workers, tourism operators, and event organizers, we strongly urge Council to meet directly and expeditiously with the affected stakeholders, including businesses, event operators, tourism organizations, workers, artists, and public safety officials.
“We further request that Council provide a response by June 30 outlining the steps being taken to address these concerns and engage affected stakeholders. This will allow Alberta’s government to evaluate whether there is a role for the Province in assisting the City and stakeholders to resolve this issue ahead of this year’s Calgary Stampede.”
Speaking off the record with an individual within the Alberta Government, they said that they hope the City makes the right decision on their own.
“The letter says what it says. Let’s hope that the city and stakeholder come to an agreement that works for everyone,” they said.
The Minister of Municipal Affairs couldn’t be reached for comment before publication, but it is understood that the provincial cabinet could be assembled to decide if they will formally intervene, should City Hall remain intransigent.
The Calgary Stampede attracts nearly 1.5 million visitors annually, making it Alberta’s largest tourism event, with economic impacts extending beyond Stampede Park, supporting thousands of jobs.
Tourism Calgary CEO Alisha Reynolds warns the City’s sudden changes to outdoor concert noise exemptions pose “immediate and serious risks” to the 2026 Calgary Stampede and Calgary’s broader visitor economy.
The organization noted that “regulatory certainty is the bedrock of private investment.”
The letter cites grave concerns with the specific bylaw restrictions and operating requirements not being communicated until only weeks before Stampede.
“By that point, event organizers, businesses, artists, and contractors had already made significant investments and operational decisions,” writes Smith and company.
A Jun. 15 permit for the 2026 Cowboys Music Festival tightened noise limits to 70 dB before midnight and 65 dB on weekends after midnight, down from the previous year.
Bylaw 32M2023 typically sets quiet hours (10 p.m.–7 a.m. weekdays, 10 p.m.–9 a.m. weekends/holidays) and noise limits of 65 decibels by day and 50 decibels at night, subject to exemptions.
Being from BC , I thought Calgary was a great city as far as cities are concerned , but the last 3 mayors and councils have made me take a huge step back on my opinion of Calgary .
Why do the voters elect these left wing fools in the bigger cities ?
You folks in Canada may not be familiar with H L Mencken who said "“Puritanism is the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.”