Regina Minute: Issue 102

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• We hosted a Pints & Politics event in Regina with Andrew Scheer, MP for Regina-Qu’Appelle, featuring an engaging Q&A session. Attendees had the chance to ask questions directly and discuss current political issues in a relaxed, informal setting. The event also allowed people to enjoy casual drinks, meet the team, and connect with like-minded community members. It was a lively and informative evening, and it was great to see so many participants actively engaging with the discussion. Thanks so much to all who came! We look forward to hosting more events like this soon.
  
  
• Regina Transit has implemented cashless tap payments on City buses, allowing riders to pay using debit cards, credit cards, or mobile wallets. This update marks the completion of a Council directive to improve transit accessibility through flexible payment methods. While cash remains an accepted form of payment, drivers can no longer provide change to riders. Tap users can utilize fare capping, which limits costs to a maximum of three daily or 31 monthly adult rides, provided they use the same unique payment method consistently. These system updates coincide with a proposed 10% fare increase in the 2026 budget. Although originally slated for implementation in April, the hike has faced public pushback, causing hesitation among city councillors. A final decision regarding the bylaw required for the fare increase is expected at the March 11th Council meeting.
  
  
• The City of Regina has delayed adding fluoride to its water supply until mid- to late 2027. The setback comes after contractors working on upgrades at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant failed to follow the approved plans for constructing the chlorine chemical building, forcing a redesign of the fluoridation equipment. Originally approved in 2021, the water fluoridation program was intended to follow completion of the plant renewal project, which itself was delayed until March 2026. The City plans to issue a tender for the fluoridation installation in the second quarter of this year, with a contract expected to be awarded in the third quarter. Officials say the delay is not expected to increase the project’s cost, and once complete, the system will supply fluoridated water to Regina, Moose Jaw, and surrounding areas. Public votes on water fluoridation in Regina in past decades - 1954, 1958, 1965, and 1985 - had rejected the measure.
  
  
• The City has launched a grant program to support accessible playgrounds, aimed at making outdoor spaces inclusive for children of all abilities. Non-profits can apply for up to 30% of project costs, with a maximum of $80,000 per project, and must demonstrate that up to 40% of funding is secured from other sources. The City’s Accessible Playground Design Standard, approved in July 2025, guides these projects, with a long-term goal of having an accessible playground within 800 metres of most homes. The program is supported by a $160,000 allocation in the 2026-27 budget, and completed projects must be finished by June 1st, 2028. A virtual information session is scheduled for March 12th, and the application window closes April 9th. The initiative is championed by Ward 5 Councillor Sarah Turnbull, who has personally advocated for accessibility in playgrounds.
  
  
• A proposed restructuring of Regina Public Schools’ elementary band program is drawing criticism from music teachers and parents who fear it will reduce the quality of music education. The school division plans to introduce a new model this fall making music mandatory in Grade 6 and centralizing some instruction at a new Music@Dieppe Centre, created in the former Dieppe School building. Critics argue the changes will cut instructional time in half for Grade 6 students, require travel for older students, and weaken the band experience, while also claiming band teachers were not adequately consulted. The school division says the change was necessary after budget cuts and will allow more students across the city to access music education, particularly in neighbourhoods where participation has been low. Officials also say the program will be reviewed annually over the next three years to assess its effectiveness.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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