Regina Minute: Issue 106

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• We're hosting a Pints & Politics event, in conjunction with our friends at the Saskatchewan Institute! We're going to keep things simple and just have some casual drinks, with no formal agenda, as an opportunity for everyone to get together with like-minded people, meet some of the team, and chat about politics. There's a lot going on, so there will be plenty of conversation topics. The event takes place on Wednesday, April 22nd. It’s free, but you’ll need to RSVP here.
  
  
• Regina’s construction boom is driving record permit activity, with 2,577 permits issued in 2024, 2,820 in 2025, and 506 already approved in the first quarter of 2026. Permits cover a wide range of projects, from backyard decks to multi-storey apartments, and the city boasts some of the fastest turnaround times in Canada - residential permits can be approved in as little as 10 days and commercial permits within 20 days. To streamline complex builds, commercial applicants are paired with a single point of contact to navigate multiple approvals, and about 94% of applications are now submitted digitally. Builders typically have six months to start construction and up to two years to complete projects, with extensions possible..
  
  
• Regina is facing a record increase in Dutch elm disease (DED), with 87 confirmed cases in 2025. This fungal disease, often spread by elm bark beetles, causes leaves to wilt and turn brown without falling. To limit transmission, a province-wide pruning ban is in effect from April 1st to August 31st. Environmental factors such as mild winters and wet springs have likely contributed to the rise in cases across Saskatchewan and into Alberta. Approximately 30% of Regina’s trees are elms, placing roughly 56,000 at risk. Prevention strategies include avoiding the storage of elm firewood and ensuring trees remain healthy through watering and fertilizing. Suspicious trees should be reported for testing - those confirmed to be infected are culled within 48 hours to prevent further spread through root systems or insects.
  
  
• Regina is extending the projected lifespan of its landfill to 2053 as waste diversion efforts improve, though the City acknowledges more progress is needed to reach its 65% diversion target. Since introducing a food and yard waste program in 2023, diversion rates have risen from 20% to 40%, supported by nearly 68,000 green carts, bi-weekly garbage collection, and a user-pay system. The City plans to expand mandatory food and yard waste collection to multi-family properties in 2027 and industrial, commercial, and institutional properties by 2028, with financial incentives for compliance. Long-term planning includes a new waste management plan expected in 2028 or 2029 and strategies to monitor and reduce landfill methane emissions in line with federal regulations.
  
  
• A new provincial housing policy in Saskatchewan is requiring some long-time residents of public housing in Regina to relocate. The policy targets seniors, asking them to move into buildings designated for those aged 55 and older to free up one-bedroom units for families and single individuals. The Regina Housing Authority reports high demand for these non-senior units and states the move is intended to better meet community needs. However, seniors and advocates have called the policy discriminatory, noting that some affected tenants have lived in their homes for 30 years. Critics, including the Opposition NDP, argue the government should find alternative ways to increase housing stock rather than displacing elderly residents from their established communities. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

Join us for Pints & Politics!

Where: Birmingham's Vodka and Ale House (2635 Star Lite St, Regina)

When: Wednesday, April 22nd, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Cost: Free (food and drinks not included)

RSVP: Required

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

This week's sponsor is you! We don't have big corporate backers, so if you like what you're reading, please consider making a donation or signing up as a monthly member.

Having said that, if you are a local business and are interested in being a sponsor, send us an email and we'll talk!