So, what sort of Impact are we having?  Approximately $77 Million Dollars! 

When we do our best to approximate what we helped preserve with our KeepCalgaryStrong campaign, it comes out to around $77 million dollars. This is based on preserving the city’s mental health strategy, preserving the low-income transit pass and preventing deeper cuts during the November Budget discussions.

This is an approximation (so if anyone wants to research a more accurate number you are quite welcome to), but it gives us a sense of what we have accomplished together. So, has your time building relationships, developing your leadership, turning people out for actions, contacting your city councillors and sharing your story had an impact?  

The simple answer is yes.  A big impact.

The Calgary Alliance for the Common Good is pleased to welcome the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 38 (CUPE) as members of our organization.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 38 (CUPE) represents 5,100 Administrative and Technical employees at the City of Calgary, ENMAX and the Calgary Parking Authority.  As an affiliate local of the largest union in Canada, CUPE is committed to improving the economic and social well-being of its members and Calgarians.  CUPE Local 38 is a proud member of the Alberta Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress.  Solidarity is the core belief of the labour movement. Together they lobby, organize and campaign for social justice on behalf of working families for a better quality of life in our society.  By negotiating fair wages and working conditions for its members, through to working with its national union on social justice campaigns both in Canada and abroad for all families, CUPE is committed to building a more just society.

In early January it came to light that the city was going to change a $2.50 fee for online ordering of low income transit passes. To again ask low income people to pay more or alternatively to ask people with disabilities to make a trip to city hall and stand in a long line to avoid the fee makes little sense. Because of the relationships we have built with media – they reached out to us to respond – and we did. Councillor Chahal also spoke out again this fee, then Councillor Farrell raised the issues with administration. The result is that the fee how now been reversed, keeping transit affordable for our city’s most vulnerable residents.

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/new-online-convenience-fee-disappoints-subsidized-transit-advocate

https://livewirecalgary.com/2020/01/13/calgary-transit-to-reimburse-convenience-fee-for-low-income-transit-users/