Calgary councillor leads push to repeal single-use items bylaw

In the wake of an ongoing debate around Calgary's new single-use items bylaw, a city councillor is pushing back with a motion to consider repealing it. 

Coun. Jennifer Wyness wrote Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she would bring forward a motion for a public hearing to consider repealing the bylaw at Tuesday's city council meeting. 

"The City of Calgary's Single-Use Items Bylaw was prematurely designed, approved and implemented," reads the document, a photo of which Wyness posted to X.

"This bylaw fails to consider the impact on regular Calgarians." 

Before Wyness's motion is considered, council will vote Tuesday on whether to get an update from administration on the bylaw. If that goes through, the motion could be discussed.

"I believe this is a chance to clarify the intent of the bylaw and determine if changes are needed," wrote Mayor Jyoti Gondek on X regarding Tuesday's council meeting.

The contentious bylaw, which took effect two weeks ago, requires businesses to ask customers if they would like a bag with their purchase and to charge a fee for paper or reusable bags.

The bylaw also requires customers to ask for foodware items like utensils or straws, if desired, as well as napkins and condiments.

The city says the bylaw is aimed at encouraging a reduction in waste going to city landfills.

The motion put forward by Wyness is signed by five other councillors: Andre Chabot, Dan McLean, Sonya Sharp, Sean Chu and Terry Wong. 

"Like the vast majority of Calgarians, I would like to see it gone or drastically changed, so looking forward to some interesting debate at council meeting tomorrow," McLean wrote on X.