Regina Minute: Birding Backpacks, Transit Pilot, and Vacant Property Penalization

Regina Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Regina politics

This Week In Regina:

• There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Wednesday at 9:00 am. The agenda includes a 2025 Budget Overview, a 2025 Budget Submission from Economic Development Regina, and a 2025 Budget Submission from the Regina Public Library.
  
  
• The City of Regina is exploring the possibility of implementing a fare-free transit pilot for high school students after a proposal was brought forward by Better Bus Youth. The pilot would initially be tested at one high school, with potential for expansion citywide if successful. City staff are expected to present a detailed plan for the pilot by summer, with the goal of launching it by September.
  
  
• Regina’s economy is projected to grow by 2.5% in 2025, a significant increase from the 0.8% growth in 2024, according to the Conference Board of Canada. Household income is expected to rise by 4.4%, outpacing inflation, while disposable income should see stronger growth due to lower interest payments from the Bank of Canada's rate cuts. Employment is forecasted to increase, but population growth will slow due to a drop in international migration.

Last Week In Regina:

• Councillors approved a motion to create a framework that would penalize owners of vacant and underutilized properties, a proposal initially introduced in 2024 by former councillor Andrew Stevens. The goal is to address challenges in inner-city neighbourhoods and the downtown area, including the high number of boarded-up houses. The motion directs Administration to create a property subclass for standalone surface parking lots, particularly in Warehouse, Downtown, and Centre Square areas, and to consider converting City-owned parking lots into residential or commercial spaces. Additionally, it proposes establishing bylaws, enforcement processes, and fines for nuisance and abandoned properties to address repeat offenses. Administration will bring a draft of the bylaws back to Council at the end of 2025.
  
  
• The City of Regina has updated its flag protocols, eliminating the practice of flying foreign country flags outside City Hall, effective immediately. The new policy, approved by Council, will only allow flags of Canada, Saskatchewan, Regina, Treaty 4, the Métis Nation, and the Union Jack on the ceremonial flagpole, with exceptions made for Regina’s sister cities, Jinan (China) and Fujioka (Japan). The change comes after controversy surrounding the decision to fly Israel's flag in May 2024, amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict, and a subsequent request to fly Palestine's flag, which was overruled. Flags for local events or charities will still be permitted, as long as they don't represent any countries.
  
  
• Regina Public Library has partnered with Birds Canada to offer birding backpacks for borrowing, equipped with binoculars and bird guides, to promote birdwatching in the city. These kits, available at all library branches, cater to beginners and provide an accessible way for people of all ages to engage in birding, a hobby that gained popularity during the pandemic. Bird Friendly Regina highlighted the affordability of the kits, which allow residents to enjoy the activity without expensive equipment. Surveys show that younger people and families are particularly using the kits.