Calgary citizen satisfaction survey: Trust in city hall rises to 54% as 76% rate quality of life ‘good’
Calgary citizen satisfaction survey shows trust in city hall has climbed to 54%, with 76% of residents rating their quality of life as good. The spring 2026 poll also finds strong public support for water and broader infrastructure investment. City officials say the results point to steady recovery in civic confidence following a turbulent period of service disruptions and political debate.
Survey shows improved trust and perceived value for taxes
The city’s spring citizen satisfaction survey records a two-point rise in overall trust in city hall to 54 per cent compared with last year. Respondents rated Calgary’s quality of life highly, with 76 per cent describing it as good — roughly 10 points above comparable municipalities.
The report places this year’s findings in the context of a recovery from a low point in spring 2024, when trust dipped to 38 per cent. Officials note incremental gains since then, including a 52 per cent reading in 2025 and the continued upward trend reflected in 2026.
Calgarians back major investment in water and infrastructure
Investment in water infrastructure emerged as a clear priority, with 63 per cent of residents supporting increased spending even if it meant higher utility rates. A slightly smaller share — 53 per cent — said they would back water upgrades at the expense of cutting other services.
Infrastructure more broadly ranked high on voters’ lists of priorities, with most respondents indicating they would accept higher taxes or reduced spending elsewhere to maintain or boost city capital projects. The sentiment follows a year that included high-profile water-main failures and repair work.
Most residents find municipal services accessible and reliable
Overall satisfaction with municipal services remained steady, with only 11 per cent reporting dissatisfaction — a three-point improvement from last spring. Large majorities said city services were easy to access, reliable and available when needed.
Specifically, 72 per cent found services easy to use, 70 per cent said services were available when required, and 69 per cent described those services as reliable. Just over half of respondents, 51 per cent, felt their concerns were addressed in a timely manner.
Traffic, roads and public safety top local concerns
Local priorities clustered around transportation and safety, with two-fifths of respondents identifying traffic and roads as a primary issue for city leaders to tackle. Crime, safety and policing followed, cited by 21 per cent of respondents.
By contrast, homelessness, poverty and affordable housing dropped in perceived urgency, with only 11 per cent listing those issues as top priorities — an eight-point decline from the previous spring survey. The shift reflects changing public attention amid competing municipal challenges.
Majority favour modest tax increases to maintain services
When asked how to preserve service levels, 57 per cent of Calgarians said they would prefer to raise taxes rather than cut services, while 37 per cent favoured reducing services to avoid higher taxes. Among those open to tax increases, most supported moderate, inflation-level adjustments rather than steep hikes.
Economic sentiment was cautiously optimistic: 60 per cent rated the local economy as good, and 54 per cent said they believe the city is on the right track for improvement over the next decade. City staff plan to present the full report to the Executive Committee on May 5.
The city says the spring 2026 survey was carried out by Ipsos Public Affairs between Feb. 17 and March 16, polling 2,500 Calgarians by telephone with a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Full findings will be made available on the city’s insights webpage following the committee presentation.
Calgary’s chief administrative officer, David Duckworth, said the results indicate progress and highlight areas for continued focus, noting the administration intends to use the feedback to guide investments and service improvements. The survey offers municipal leaders a clear mandate from residents to prioritize roads, water systems and reliable service delivery as they prepare budgets and policy decisions for the year ahead.
