Regina Minute: Election Results, New Mayor, and Flag Raising Cancelled

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

This Week In Regina:

• Election results are in. Regina has a new Mayor. Chad Bachynski, a 38-year-old SaskEnergy manager, defeated Lori Bresciani and incumbent Sandra Masters, who finished third. Bachynski's campaign emphasized safety, affordability, and uniting City Council around a collective vision for Regina's future.
  
  
• City Hall will also welcome eight new Councillors. Incumbents Bob Hawkins and Terina Nelson lost their seats, and longtime Councillor Jerry Flegel was defeated, too. No wards were acclaimed - all featured competitive races.
  
  
• The new Mayor and Council will meet for the first time this evening, at 7:00 pm, for a swearing-in ceremony.

Last Week In Regina:

• Voter turnout for Regina's 2024 municipal election increased to 26%, with 52,949 people casting ballots, up by over 11,000 from the 2020 election. While the turnout still remains relatively low, City officials said it is a step forward, and are attributing increased public engagement to better communication efforts. Some polling stations faced delays, with voters still in line an hour after polls closed, causing the results to be delayed. The Chief Returning Officer says that he will review the voting process, particularly the technology used, to improve efficiency in future elections.
  
  
• The City of Regina cancelled a planned flag-raising ceremony for the Palestinian flag originally scheduled for November 15th, which was intended to mark the anniversary of the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. The decision came from outgoing Mayor Sandra Masters, and the City did not provide further details. Palestine Solidarity Regina had hoped that Regina would be the first major Canadian city to fly the flag. The cancellation followed controversy from earlier this year when the City raised the Israeli flag, prompting calls for an update to the flag policy. In light of the cancellation, more than 100 protestors gathered at City Hall to wave Palestinian flags anyway.
  
  
• Canada Post workers in Regina began their strike, gathering on Saskatchewan Drive to demand better wages and benefits. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) highlighted frustrations over stalled negotiations and proposals to reduce benefits for new hires, including the removal of defined-benefit pensions and holiday weeks. The union criticized Canada Post for claiming financial struggles while investing heavily in infrastructure and fleet upgrades. On account of the strike, the City of Regina is reminding residents to use online, phone, or in-person methods at City Hall should they need to pay for services.