Big Cities InsightsIssue 2 · Nov. 2, 2026
Six cities picked mayors, and budget season opens
Every week, we explain what’s happening at 15 of Canada’s big-city councils, in plain English. This week, six cities elected mayors, two B.C. councils took office and the Prairie cities started their 2027 budgets.
The week in four numbers
01Six cities
Six big cities picked their mayors
Unofficial results, all polls reported · city clerks; Poliwave · Oct. 27-28
What happened. Five Ontario cities voted on Monday, Oct. 26, and Winnipeg on Wednesday. Four mayors kept their jobs: Olivia Chow in Toronto, Mark Sutcliffe in Ottawa, Patrick Brown in Brampton and Scott Gillingham in Winnipeg. Two lost. Alvin Tedjo beat Mayor Carolyn Parrish in Mississauga, and Keanin Loomis won Hamilton, where Mayor Andrea Horwath finished third.
New faces. Toronto elected seven new councillors, and three sitting councillors lost. Winnipeg elected nine new councillors, and four lost. In Ottawa, three new councillors join 21 who were re-elected.
Turnout. About 977,000 people voted for Toronto mayor, up from about 563,000 ballots in 2022. Ottawa’s preliminary turnout fell to 36.2 per cent from 43.8 per cent, and Mississauga’s was 33.9 per cent.
What’s next. Toronto’s city clerk certified the official results on Oct. 29. The five Ontario councils take office Sunday, Nov. 15.
02British Columbia
Vancouver and Surrey’s new councils take office
What happened. B.C. cities voted on Oct. 17. In Vancouver, Pete Fry of the Greens beat Mayor Ken Sim with 98,748 votes, and turnout was 43.4 per cent. Greens, COPE and OneCity hold 9 of the 10 council seats, with one for ABC. Voters also approved $790 million in capital borrowing. In Surrey, Doug McCallum of the Safe Surrey Coalition beat Mayor Brenda Locke with 31.9 per cent, and his slate won 7 of the 8 council seats.
Why it matters. Both councils are sworn in Monday, Nov. 2. Surrey’s new majority has promised a four-year property tax freeze. Vancouver’s mayor-elect says the 2027 budget won’t be another zero increase.
What’s next. Across Metro Vancouver, 13 of 21 cities have new mayors. The regional board’s first regular meeting with them is Nov. 27.
03Budgets
Budget season opens on the Prairies
Budget seasonCity by city
When the budgets land
- EdmontonDraft 2027-2030 budget released Nov. 2
- CalgaryProposed 2027-2030 budget released Nov. 10
- Quebec CityWindow opens to adopt the 2027 budget Nov. 15
- CalgaryPublic submissions and deliberations Nov. 23
- EdmontonBudget public hearings Nov. 23
- ReginaBudget deliberations Dec. 7
- EdmontonTarget to approve the four-year budget Dec. 18
- Quebec CityLegal deadline to adopt Dec. 31
- TorontoMayor tables the 2027 budget by Feb. 1
Already set for 2027
Saskatoon: a 5.81 per cent tax increase, approved
City budget calendars · Churchill’s big-cities tracker · Oct. 30
What happened. Edmonton releases its draft four-year budget on Monday, Nov. 2, and Calgary follows on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Both run from 2027 to 2030. Edmonton’s 2026 property tax rose 6.9 per cent, about $245 for the average home. Calgary’s guidance in July pointed to a 15 per cent increase in 2027.
Water bills first. On Oct. 28, Calgary council voted 9-6 for four years of water rate increases, about 20 per cent a year from 2027 to 2030. The average monthly bill goes from $119 now to $206 by 2030, to pay for a $6.5-billion program of pipes and capacity.
What’s next. Public hearings open Nov. 23 in both cities, and Edmonton aims to approve its budget by Dec. 18. Regina is aiming for a 5.81 per cent increase, with deliberations in early December.
04Provinces
Edmonton pushes for more say, and Metro Vancouver waits
Edmonton. On Oct. 27, council voted 9-3 to push for more powers for the city. It will work through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the big-city mayors’ group and Alberta Municipalities. A city report called splitting from Alberta unlikely. Earlier in October, the province ordered Edmonton and Calgary to reverse their infill housing rules within 12 weeks; Edmonton’s $175 million in federal housing money is tied to more than 5,200 new homes.
Metro Vancouver. On Friday, Oct. 30, at its last meeting, the outgoing regional board voted 87-36 to leave the 2027 budget to the new board. The mayors-elect of Surrey and New Westminster had asked for that. The budget as proposed raises operating spending 7.4 per cent and the average household cost to $914 from $897. The new board’s first regular meeting is Nov. 27.
05City by city
Where all 15 city halls stand
Churchill’s big-cities tracker, from each city’s official records · Oct. 30
Toronto: Olivia Chow starts her new term Nov. 15 and must table the 2027 budget by Feb. 1.
Montreal: Boroughs adopted their 2027 budgets in October; the city-wide date isn’t set yet.
Calgary: The four-year budget comes Nov. 10, after council approved water rate increases (story 3).
Ottawa: Mark Sutcliffe starts his second term Nov. 15.
Edmonton: The draft four-year budget comes out Nov. 2; council voted to push for more city powers (story 4). Coun. Thu Parmar (Ward sipiwiyiniwak) wrote in the Edmonton Journal on Oct. 29 that the city should bid for a Northern Super League women’s pro soccer team, and launched a petition. The league started in 2025 with six clubs, including Calgary; Winnipeg joins in 2027.
Winnipeg: Scott Gillingham returns with nine new councillors (story 1).
Mississauga: Alvin Tedjo takes office Nov. 15.
Vancouver: Mayor Pete Fry and the new council are sworn in Nov. 2 (story 2).
Brampton: Patrick Brown starts a third term Nov. 15.
Hamilton: Keanin Loomis takes office Nov. 15.
Surrey: Mayor Doug McCallum and the new council are sworn in Nov. 2 (story 2).
Quebec City: Council must adopt the 2027 budget between Nov. 15 and Dec. 31.
Halifax: The 2027-28 budget process is expected to open in mid-November.
Saskatoon: A 5.81 per cent tax increase for 2027 is already approved.
Regina: A budget proposal comes in November, with deliberations in early December.
Word of the week
Mill rate
The tax rate a city sets for each dollar of a property’s assessed value. Council sets it each year to raise what the budget needs from property tax.
Regina, 2026Regina’s 2026 mill rate increase, the largest in the city’s history.
City of Regina, 2026 budget
Dates to watch
What’s coming up
- Calgary’s Stage 4 water limits beginOutdoor water restrictions, about four weeks
- Calgary’s four-year budgetProposed 2027-2030 budget released
- Five Ontario councils take officeToronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Hamilton
- Montreal city council meetsRegular council meeting
- Budget hearings openCalgary submissions; Edmonton public hearings
- Metro Vancouver board meetsFirst regular meeting with the new mayors; the 2027 budget is on hold
Further out
- Toronto’s budget deadlineThe mayor must table the 2027 budget
City calendars · Churchill’s big-cities tracker
Public sources only. No predictions.
Every candidate and council is reported the same way. Races are never called by us.
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Get the free countdownSources. Ontario and Winnipeg: City of Toronto certified results (Oct. 29); City of Brampton and City of Winnipeg unofficial results; Poliwave for Ottawa, Mississauga and Hamilton (all polls, Oct. 27-28); CP24 (Toronto vote totals); Global News (Toronto and Winnipeg councils, Oct. 27-28); CBC News (Ottawa turnout and council, Oct. 27). B.C.: City of Vancouver official results (Oct. 21); Surrey Now-Leader (Oct. 19); Indo-Canadian Voice (Oct. 26); Vancouver Sun (Oct. 27); Surrey Now-Leader (Metro Vancouver budget vote, Oct. 30). Budgets: City of Edmonton, City of Calgary and City of Regina budget pages; Global News (Calgary budget guidance, Sept. 3; water rates, Oct. 28). Edmonton: Edmonton Journal (Oct. 27; Coun. Thu Parmar’s column, Oct. 29); Global News (infill order, Oct. 8). City by city: Churchill’s big-cities tracker, from each city’s official records, checked Oct. 30, 2026.
Churchill Strategy has worked on municipal campaigns in Edmonton, and with conservative parties in Alberta, Saskatchewan and federally. Big Cities Insights reports results; it does not take sides.
