Yesterday, City Council rejected city-wide secondary suites reform by an 8-7 vote. However, City Council also approved drafting of a new by-law, which could allow for secondary suites in Wards 7, 8, 9 and 11. While hopes had been set on city-wide approval, this marks an important first step that could see implementation in four of the fourteen wards by mid-2015, provided that Council approves the final by-law.

With the crucial Secondary Suite vote set to go before City Council today, the Calgary Herald Editorial Board is calling for Councillors to take action on Secondary Suites after years of study, consultation and debate. This follows the endorsements from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, Calgary Economic Development, Bishop Fred Henry, dozens of community and business leaders across the city, and thousands of Calgarians who have signed a petition asking Council to improve the accessibility of Secondary Suites in Calgary.

Since the Calgarians For Secondary Suites campaign launched on Sept 1st of this year, we have been hearing from dozens of business and community leaders about the pressing need for action on Secondary Suites. On the eve of the major City Council vote on Secondary Suite reform, we've compiled a list of some of the things they have been saying.

Some of you may have been wondering why we haven’t seen any surveys on support for secondary suites. The likely explanation is that a new survey would show Calgarians strongly support the legalization of secondary suites and strongly support them in their neighbourhoods.

While optimistic about the potential for Secondary Suites to help tackle complex issues such as affordable housing and poverty, the United Way of Calgary encourages City Council to support Secondary Suites and help make Calgary a great city for all.

With only hours to go before the crucial City Council vote on Secondary Suites on Monday, December 15, letters of support continue to pour in from prominent groups and community organizations. The Alex, Calgary Arts Development, the Catholic Women's League, the Disability Action Hall, the Immigrant Sector Council of Calgary, Poverty Talks, the Bankview Community Association and Highland Park Community Association are all asking Council to support Secondary Suites for Monday's vote.

Today, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce hosted a press conference to announce their support for more legal Secondary Suites to help ease the housing crisis in Calgary. Representatives from the Chamber were joined on stage by leaders from the business and social sectors in a demonstration of broad public support for Council to move forward in a meaningful way on enhanced secondary suites policies for Calgarians. 

Today, more business leaders endorse proposed reforms for increasing the number of Secondary Suites in Calgary. Business titans and civic champions George Brookman and Jim Gray alongside: Strategic Group, RedLine Real Estate Group and Studio North, recognize the vital role Secondary Suites can play in solving Calgary's housing crisis.

Community Associations from across the city are speaking up in favour of Secondary Suites. Thorncliffe Greenview, Killarney Glengarry and Marda Loop Community Associations are all asking City Council to support Secondary Suite reform that would improve the regulations and process by which suites are approved in their communities. 

Support for Secondary Suites continues to pour in from a diverse range of leading community groups and organizations in the lead-up to the important December 15th City Council vote. Today's endorsements include the Alberta College of Social Workers, Calgary Chamber of Voluntary Organizations, the Calgary Food Bank, the Urban Calgary Students Association, Vecova Centre and the Women's Centre.