About this episode

Nathan Hawryluk discusses the challenges of city taxes and infrastructure funding in Calgary.

When Calgary’s main water feeder line broke for the second time in two years, Nathan Hawryluk decided he needed to get more involved. He already had an unusual view of the city’s finances as a planning commissioner, where questions about new neighborhoods and the infrastructure needed to support them regularly cross his desk. Norm talks with Nathan about the “bad Goldilocks spot” behind those numbers, where the city’s obligations and the revenue available to meet them have drifted apart. As Nathan puts it, “Our taxes are too high for people to pay comfortably and too low to actually do the job.” ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES The Commons (Site) Strong Towns Calgary (Site) "I got put on a committee... now what?" Office Hours with John Reuter Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn) Do you know someone who would make for a great Bottom-Up Revolution guest? Let us know here. This podcast is made possible by Strong Towns members. Thank you! Join fellow members discussing this episode in The Commons.

More episodes of The Bottom-Up Revolution

• The Missing Ingredient in Great Placemaking · September 10, 2026 · 43 min
• The Co-Living Exchange Pairing Students and Seniors · September 3, 2026 · 42 min
• They Want to Pave Old San Juan for Parking · September 2, 2026 · 44 min
• This Artist Is Secretly Fixing Potholes With Mosaics · September 1, 2026 · 16 min
• The Website Mapping America’s Third Places · August 25, 2026 · 17 min
• Local Change Doesn’t Require a Big Crowd · August 18, 2026 · 20 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Bottom-Up Revolution podcast page.