The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is calling on city administration to overhaul its business permitting and licensing process, arguing that delays and complexity are driving entrepreneurs and investment to competing jurisdictions. In a report released Wednesday titled "Cutting Red Tape: A Roadmap for Calgary," the Chamber outlines 18 recommendations for simplifying the process of starting and operating a business in the city.
Among the key findings: the average time to obtain a development permit in Calgary is 87 business days, compared to 52 in Edmonton and 41 in Saskatoon. For commercial building permits, the average wait is 63 business days, with some applicants reporting delays of more than four months. The report also found that Calgary requires more separate licences and permits than any other major city in Western Canada for comparable business types.
Impact on Entrepreneurs
"Time is money, and right now Calgary's permitting process is costing businesses both," said Deborah Chicken, president and CEO of the Calgary Chamber. "We have heard from dozens of entrepreneurs who have delayed openings, lost tenants, or simply chosen to set up shop somewhere else because the process here is too slow and too complicated."
Restaurant owner Marco DeLuca said he waited five months to receive the permits needed to open a second location in Kensington. "I was paying rent the whole time, with no revenue coming in," DeLuca told reporters. "In Edmonton, a friend of mine got through the same process in six weeks. That's unacceptable."
City Response
The City of Calgary's planning department acknowledged the concerns and said it has already begun implementing changes. A spokesperson said the city launched a new online permitting portal in January and has hired 15 additional permit reviewers to address the backlog. "We recognize that the permitting experience has not met the expectations of our business community, and we are taking concrete steps to improve it," the statement read.
City Council is expected to debate the Chamber's recommendations at an upcoming committee meeting. Councillor Sonya Sharp, chair of the Community Development Committee, said she supports many of the proposals and wants to see the city establish clear service-level timelines for permit approvals. "If we want Calgary to be the best place in Canada to start a business, we need a permitting system that reflects that ambition," Sharp said.