Regina Minute: Issue 57

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• Council’s Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am. The agenda includes a discussion about hiring a new Integrity Commissioner, as the current Commissioner is not seeking reappointment when her term ends on December 31st, 2025. The Integrity Commissioner is supposed to play a key role in ensuring independent and fair handling of complaints under the City's Code of Ethics Bylaw, as required by The Cities Act. The City Clerk’s Office is budgeting $50,000 annually for Integrity Commissioner services, with past costs increasing due to a rise in formal complaints and additional responsibilities such as bylaw reviews. Between 2018 and 2020, the City spent $32,235, while from 2021 to 2024, the cost rose to $137,120.94 due to more intensive caseloads. The Committee is also considering partnering again with Saskatoon to share the role for consistency and efficiency.
  
  
• The Executive Committee will also discuss a fare-free transit pilot for all grade nine students citywide. The pilot would take place from September 2nd, 2025, to December 31st, 2025. The program is estimated to cost about $31,000 for the four months and would require an amendment to the Regina Transit Fare Bylaw to issue free passes. A verification process for youth aged 13 and under to reduce fare misuse is also being considered. Data on ridership, bus pass use, and attendance rates will be collected and reported in late 2026. An earlier option to run a pilot at just Johnson Collegiate was rejected due to higher costs and operational challenges.
  
  
• On Friday, May 2nd, at 9:00 am, there will be a Special Meeting of City Council to reconsider a 2021 decision to add fluoride to the city’s water supply. The original plan was set to begin after upgrades to the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant. A new motion proposes postponing the project until there is “conclusive evidence that fluoridation poses no significant neurotoxic or other health risks”. If approved, the $2.1 million in capital costs and $300,000 in annual operating funds would be redirected to the Water Plant Capital Reserve during the postponement.
  
  
• Speaking of fluoride, a town hall meeting about the issue was cancelled due to safety concerns following intense public backlash. Organized by Councillor Sarah Turnbull, the event was intended to provide a balanced discussion but faced hostility, including personal attacks against Turnbull. The College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan declined to participate but reiterated its support for fluoride based on health guidelines.
  
  
• Regina-Lewvan saw the highest advance voter turnout in Saskatchewan ahead of the federal election, with 32.27% of registered voters - 19,869 people - casting ballots early. This riding led all 14 provincial districts in advance polling participation from Good Friday to Easter Monday. Other urban ridings, including Saskatoon-University and Regina-Wascana, also saw strong early turnout above 30%. Across Saskatchewan, advance voting increased by 12% from 2021, with a total of 206,754 ballots cast early. Nationally, 7.28 million Canadians voted in advance polls.
  
  
• Regina is introducing seven new electric buses to its public transit fleet, with 13 more expected to arrive in 2026. Mayor Chad Bachynski called the move a major step toward a cleaner, more sustainable city, highlighting benefits like reduced emissions and lower operational costs. Each bus cost $1.37 million, with half funded by the federal government's zero-emission transit program. Together, the City and federal government invested over $52.2 million to cover the costs of both the buses and their charging infrastructure.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

It’s Election Day! Voters from coast to coast are casting their ballots to decide who will form the next government. Make sure you take the opportunity to have your voice heard.

Need details on where to vote, what ID to bring, or who’s running in your riding? Visit the Elections Canada website for everything you need to know:

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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