Regina Minute: Budget Transparency, Ignite Funding, and a New Health Centre

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

This Week In Regina:

• There is just a single meeting at City Hall this week - the Regina Appeal Board meets on Thursday at 5:30 pm. Regular meetings will resume next week.
  
  
• The new Regina Breast Health Centre is scheduled to open on April 23rd, offering surgical, imaging, and consultation services in one centralized location. The Province says the Centre will double current diagnostic capacity, handling up to 1,600 patient referrals annually. While the government insists the facility is fully staffed, most of the roles are filled through staff reorganization rather than new hires.
  
  
• The University of Regina Women’s Centre is launching legal action against the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU), alleging it withheld around $200,000 in student fees across four semesters. The Centre is also seeking punitive damages and a court order to prevent URSU from ending their service agreement during the legal proceedings. This case follows a similar one filed by UR Pride, with both groups disputing URSU's claims of non-compliance. The Women’s Centre, which relies heavily on student levies, provides counselling, advocacy, and bursaries for students. Amid ongoing tensions, the university has announced it will stop using URSU to distribute student fees starting in August, citing concerns over the Union’s governance.

Last Week In Regina:

• A debate unfolded at a City Council meeting after Ward 10 Councillor Clark Bezo accused the Good Trouble Network of political extremism while the group was proposing a food security project in the Heritage neighbourhood. Bezo questioned the group’s social media content and alleged links to controversial causes, drawing criticism from other Councillors and the Mayor. The Good Trouble Network, along with other local groups, is seeking to lease a vacant fire hall for a collaborative food assistance initiative aimed at addressing food insecurity in the area. City Administration expressed support for the project, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, even with critics, when shared goals are involved.
  
  
• The City of Regina received an 'F' grade for budget transparency in 2024 from the C.D. Howe Institute, a significant drop from the 'B' grades it earned in 2022 and 2023. The report criticized the 2024 budget for lacking clarity, completeness, and adherence to public sector accounting standards. Instead of a full budget book, Regina issued a condensed summary based on a previously approved two-year plan, which some Councillors had already flagged as confusing. The report also noted issues with late budget approval and missing comparisons between projected and actual spending. City officials acknowledged the shortcomings but called it a one-time decision, pledging a return to full annual budget reports starting in 2025.
  
  
• Regina's Ignite Adult Learning Centre held a news conference calling for last-minute provincial funding to avoid closure. The Centre, which offers Grade 12 diplomas and support for addiction recovery, housing, and suicide prevention, announced it would close in September due to a dramatic funding cut. CEO Dellice Saxby said the drop from $580,000 to $250,000 in funding makes continued operation impossible. Staff, students, and supporters rallied at the Legislature, urging the government to reconsider.