Regina Minute: Issue 103

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• The Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am. The Committee will receive the Animal Bylaw Review Report, which recommends updating Regina’s 2009 animal bylaw to address rising safety concerns over dangerous and aggressive animals. Proposed changes include allowing judges to issue interim orders such as muzzling or short-leash requirements, requiring dogs to be physically leashed in public, mandating bite reporting within two days, increasing fines for offenses, and standardizing 72-hour hold periods for animals at the Regina Humane Society. The bylaw would also remove the calendar-year limit on repeat offenses and require owners to provide identifying information during enforcement. The report does not recommend breed-specific bans, pet limits, or additional cruelty provisions, citing public opposition and existing provincial laws. These updates respond to a 40% rise in dogs at large and a 20% increase in dog bites since 2022, informed by over 12,000 public survey responses and consultations with police, health authorities, and the Humane Society. The Executive Committee’s discussion will determine if the changes proceed to City Council for approval.
  
  
• City Council unanimously passed four motions seeking revenue alternatives after implementing a record 10.9% property tax increase. In collaboration with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the City requested new taxation options and compensation for collecting the provincial portion of education property taxes. While the Saskatchewan government is open to exploring future taxation arrangements, it rejected Regina’s specific requests for PST exemptions on municipal construction and the restoration of utility surcharges from Crown corporations. The Province suggested that municipalities utilize existing powers, such as special taxes and user fees, to fund services. Regina’s advocacy highlights the financial pressure on growing cities, which municipal leaders describe as an "urgent cry for help" to address infrastructure maintenance and social challenges like the housing and homelessness crises.
  
  
• Starting April 1st, Regina residents will have a new option for paying for metered parking with scratch-off vouchers, following the City’s decision to remove coins from downtown parking meters. City officials say the vouchers include security features to prevent counterfeiting and are not tied to any specific license plate. Residents have expressed concerns that the shift to cashless payment could be inconvenient, particularly for seniors or those less comfortable with technology. Urban planners see the vouchers as a transitional solution that balances modern payment options with accessibility for all users. Over time, the City plans to explore additional ways for residents to purchase vouchers - right now they are available at City Hall.
  
  
• Regina’s plan to renew the Regina Public Library central branch is now in jeopardy after the City said it no longer has enough debt capacity to fund the project. City Administration previously set aside between $92 million and $119 million in borrowing room in 2024 for the redevelopment, which is estimated to cost between $125 million and $150 million, but officials now say rising costs for other projects and infrastructure upgrades have reduced the available amount to about $39.6 million by 2030. Library board representatives say they had been moving forward under the assumption the funding was secured, noting the project has been discussed since 2009 and planning has been underway since 2017, with roughly $2 million already spent. Without City support, the library could attempt to fund the project through its dedicated mill rate, but officials say it would take until at least 2035 to collect enough money, potentially delaying a new facility until around 2040. City staff have also suggested scaling back the project or shifting to a renovation instead of a full rebuild. Council is expected to revisit the issue on March 25th as officials explore possible alternatives, including funding from other levels of government.
  
  
• A planned 10% bus fare increase for Regina Transit has been delayed again after a divided vote at City Council pushed the final decision to March 25th. While Council already approved the increase as part of the 2026 budget, a bylaw is still required before it can take effect, and Councillors failed to unanimously approve all three readings needed to finalize it. The proposed hike was intended to help offset the City’s 10.9% property tax increase, but critics argue it would make transit less affordable for many residents. Several community members and organizations spoke against the increase, saying transit users were not adequately consulted and warning it could create barriers for those who rely on buses. Supporters of the increase argue higher fares are needed to keep up with rising operating costs and maintain service levels. If approved later this month, the new fares would take effect April 8th, while rejecting the increase would require the City to cover the lost revenue using its general reserve fund.

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