Regina Minute: Issue 58

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• On Wednesday, at 1:00 pm, there will be a City Council meeting. Council will consider changes to its taxi bylaw to improve accessibility and service standards. The proposed updates would replace the current lottery system for accessible taxi licences with a waitlist, requiring applicants to be at least 18 years old, provide ID, and pay a $50 fee. Licences will be non-transferable and issued based on trip data and service needs. Accessible taxi drivers will be required to complete mandatory training, including the safe use of mobility devices and sensitivity training. Brokers must have at least one accessible taxi in service at all times. Drivers who refuse trips must report the refusal to their broker, who must submit a detailed report to the City within 14 days.
  
  
• To meet a Council directive to reduce a proposed tax increase, City Administration has recommended $1.55 million in budget cuts for 2025, including cancelling the annual Light the Lights holiday event. Other proposed savings include delaying facility upgrades, scaling back maintenance, reducing mosquito control in outlying areas, and cutting dust suppression on gravel roads. The largest chunk of savings - $600,000 - is expected from the federal government’s cancellation of the carbon tax on natural gas and electricity. Some Councillors expressed frustration at the proposed cuts, saying Council had little input on what was selected. Administration said the options chosen were based on what could be implemented mid-year and have minimal impact on residents. Councillor David Froh may ask for this plan to be revisited at Wednesday’s Council meeting.
  
  
• Council has reaffirmed its 2021 decision to add fluoride to the City’s water supply, rejecting a motion to reverse the plan during a lengthy special meeting. The vote was 7-3 against repeal, with Councillors debating concerns raised by delegates about potential health risks and the lack of public consultation. Critics argued that fluoridation may pose dangers, referencing studies linking it to reduced IQ in children, while supporters - including medical professionals and dental associations - defended its safety and effectiveness in preventing cavities. Councillors also questioned the cost and purpose of reopening the debate, with one noting it undermined trust in institutions. A University of Calgary medical professor reassured Council that fluoride levels in drinking water are strictly regulated and safe. Despite past referendum results opposing fluoridation, a recent poll showed a slight majority of Regina residents now support the move. The fluoride program is expected to begin at the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant in 2026.
  
  
• City Manager Niki Anderson has unexpectedly gone on leave, with no timeline or details provided. Mayor Chad Bachynski cited it as a personal matter. In response, Council appointed City Clerk Jim Nicol as interim City Manager, granting him a temporary pay raise. Nicol has previously served in the role and is expected to maintain continuity in City operations. Anderson, who became the first woman to hold the City Manager position in 2022, has had a contentious tenure that included a lawsuit filed by two Councillors over a homelessness budget dispute, which the City’s Integrity Commissioner later deemed inappropriate. There is no indication as to whether or not she will return.
  
  
• In other staff shakeups, the City has confirmed the termination of three employees from the City Manager’s office, including Ly Pham, Chief of Staff to City Manager Niki Anderson. Also dismissed were Christine Pirlot, Executive Assistant to the City Manager, and Audra Young, director of Indigenous Relations and Community Development. These terminations were announced shortly after Anderson’s leave was announced. Mayor Chad Bachynski stated that Council was not involved in the dismissals, as administrative staffing decisions fall outside their authority. There has been no official confirmation that these departures are related to the City Manager going on leave, but it seems unlikely that there's no connection.
  
  
• The federal election is over and Regina remains firmly in Conservative hands, though with tighter margins. All three Conservative incumbents held their seats, but faced stronger competition from Liberal challengers. In Regina Wascana, Conservative Michael Kram won with 49.9% of the vote, though Liberal challenger Jeffrey Walters saw a significant increase in support from 2021, getting 44.1% of the vote. In Regina Lewvan, Conservative Warren Steinley was re-elected with 50.3%, while Liberal Mac Hird improved his party's standing, securing 42.7% of the vote. The Regina Qu'Appelle seat, held by former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer since 2004, remained solidly in Conservative hands with 63.8% of the vote.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

The federal election may be over, but there’s still important work to do here in Regina. At Common Sense Regina, we’re focused on holding City Hall accountable and pushing for real change in our city. If you care about priorities like increasing transparency, protecting the freedom of residents and businesses, and bringing common sense back to local government, now is the time to get involved.

Volunteer with us today and help build a better future for Regina.

🪙 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!