Regina Minute: Issue 68

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• YWCA Regina and the Regina Farmers’ Market have launched Saskatchewan’s first Nutrition Coupon Program to help people facing food insecurity. Approved individuals can receive $20 per week, and families can receive $60 in vouchers for fresh or preserved food throughout the 14-week summer program - a potential value of up to $840. The coupons work like cash and can be redeemed at the market - any unused vouchers are repurposed to buy food for the YWCA’s community kitchen. The program is funded entirely through donations and sponsorships, unlike similar initiatives in other provinces. Early participants say it’s already making a difference by providing access to nutritious food for their families. Community members can support the program through financial or food donations.
  
  
• Two new granite pedestals were unveiled at the Victoria Park cenotaph to honour Canada’s participation in the Normandy Campaign and the Battle of the Scheldt during World War II. These memorials, funded by Veterans Affairs Canada and the Saskatchewan Veterans Club Support Program, serve to remember the sacrifices of veterans. Each pedestal, costing about $2,700, is designed to last several hundred years and add to the 32 existing pedestals at the site. The Royal United Services Institute of Regina emphasized the importance of preserving history and educating future generations about these significant military events. Two more pedestals commemorating the liberation of the Netherlands and the Royal Canadian Navy in Korea will be unveiled in August.
  
  
• A citizens’ group in Regina is urging the City to stop evicting homeless encampments and instead create an official designated site for them, similar to other cities like Halifax. They argue that removing encampments without providing housing solutions causes trauma and hardship for those affected. The group is also calling for City supports such as bathrooms, garbage services, water access, and the repeal of a bylaw that restricts park use after 11 pm, which they say criminalizes homelessness. They want Regina to allocate $10 million annually for affordable housing and push provincial and federal governments for housing reforms. The City acknowledges the homelessness issue and has hired a coordinator to develop a new encampment strategy, with a report expected by the end of July. Homelessness in Regina has grown significantly, with over 800 people living without stable housing, a 255% increase since 2016.
  
  
• The City of Regina held its annual Ladybug Release this week, welcoming families to Victoria Park to help spread 200,000 ladybugs. The City has run this event since 2015 as part of its focus on organic pest control. The City’s forestry and pest team says ladybugs are a natural answer to aphids, which damage trees and plants by sucking sap. One ladybug can eat up to 50 aphids a day. The City buys the insects each year for about $3,500, sourcing them from California. Children enjoyed cookies and other activities alongside the release. The City says the event is good for the environment and helps people learn about healthy gardening practices.
  
  
• A recent third-party review has called out serious problems inside Regina’s hospitals, highlighting a lack of trust between doctors and leadership. The report, commissioned by the Province after complaints of racism and misconduct, laid out 14 recommendations to address what it describes as long-standing issues. The Saskatchewan Health Authority says it is already working on an action plan with the Saskatchewan Medical Association and other partners. Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill thanked the reviewers and promised improvements for both doctors and patients. Changes are expected to roll out over the next six to twelve months, including better support for medical leaders and an anti-racism strategy. The Health Authority says more work is needed to rebuild trust and ensure a safe workplace for all staff and patients.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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