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The Alberta government says it had no choice but to make “difficult decisions” in the 2020 budget, after Mayor Naheed Nenshi slammed what he called a “bizarre” cut to affordable housing repairs.

Thursday’s budget slashed $53 million over the next three years from affordable housing maintenance, which is part of the Ministry of Seniors and Housing’s capital budget. It’s still unclear how that reduction will be spread across Alberta.

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With Calgary already facing a significant affordable housing shortfall, Nenshi called the maintenance cuts a “shocker” that could force the city to close housing units that have fallen into disrepair.

The Calgary Housing Co. manages affordable housing as the city’s largest residential landlord. In total, it looks after about 7,100 units of social, affordable and near-market housing.

Coun. Druh Farrell, chair of the board of directors, said affordable housing maintenance has been chronically underfunded across multiple provincial governments.