Regina Minute: Issue 107

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.
  
  
• The City of Regina has confirmed that its Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Daren Anderson, has resigned after just over a year in the role. Anderson’s departure follows two budget cycles during his tenure, with the City praising his work in helping navigate recent financial challenges but providing no details on his reason for leaving. His resignation adds to ongoing turnover in senior leadership at City Hall, which has seen multiple top executive changes in recent years, including the absence of a permanent City Manager since mid-2025. The City says a transition plan is in place to maintain continuity while it works to fill the vacancy. 
  
  
• The City of Regina is moving ahead with plans to redevelop “The Yards,” a 17-acre former railyard site on Dewdney Avenue, and is now seeking a private developer to lead the project. The site is intended to become a mixed-use neighbourhood that includes housing, infrastructure, and a public park, with a minimum requirement of 150 housing units tied to federal-provincial funding conditions. City officials say the project represents a major infill opportunity and a key step in revitalizing underused land in the downtown area. A formal request for proposals has been issued, with a submission deadline set for September 30th, 2026. The land has been vacant since 2012, when it was acquired by the City after CP Rail vacated the site.
  
  
• The federal government has pledged $29 million toward major wastewater system upgrades in Regina as part of a larger infrastructure funding program aimed at supporting growing communities. The funding will go toward the South Trunk Wastewater Capacity Upgrades Project, a five-phase, $106-million initiative that includes installing kilometres of large-diameter sewer lines to increase capacity and reduce the risk of basement flooding. Officials say the upgrades will also help limit wastewater overflows into Wascana Creek and support continued housing development in the city. Work on the project began in 2024 and is expected to be completed by 2028, with additional related wastewater infrastructure projects also underway in Regina. City and federal officials say the investment will help the City better manage population growth and plan for future expansion.
  
  
• Saskatchewan’s Health Minister says staffing challenges at the Regina Urgent Care Centre (UCC) are not a concern for future facilities despite ongoing closures and reduced hours at the existing site. The Regina UCC, which was intended to operate 24/7 when it opened in 2024, has instead frequently reduced hours or closed temporarily due to physician shortages. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said these issues are primarily driven by limited physician availability and broader recruitment challenges rather than systemic design problems with urgent care centres. He pointed to investments in medical training at the University of Saskatchewan and ongoing recruitment efforts, including international hiring from the UK and Ireland, as part of the solution. 

🚨 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!