Regina Minute: Issue 70

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• There will be a City Council meeting on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. Council will discuss a $40-million increase to the budget for the new aquatic facility, raising the total cost to $285.1 million from the previous $245.1 million. This increase is attributed to market volatility, a shortage of skilled tradespeople, and clearer project requirements. The City plans to cover the additional cost by reallocating $30 million from other projects and adding $10 million in debt, bringing total debt financing for the project to $156 million. Federal and provincial governments are contributing $79.2 million toward the cost. The new facility will include two 50-metre pools and aims to serve a growing population, replacing the aging Lawson pool. Construction is scheduled to start this fall with completion expected in 2029. Some Councillors proposed cost-cutting measures at last week’s Executive Committee meeting - like removing the geothermal heating system - but the Committee voted to maintain the project’s current scope. We’ll keep you informed as to Council’s final decision.
  
  
• The Audit and Finance Committee will meet on Thursday at 4:00 pm. The Committee will discuss a new Four-Step Budget Process for the 2026-2027 Multi-Year Budget to improve transparency and align spending with community priorities. This change was driven by past concerns about limited debate time and opaque decision-making. The new process emphasizes linking spending to service levels and long-term goals while providing more time for Council to deliberate and engage. The four steps include setting base service level budgets, developing new funding requests and reviewing these with Council in September, and holding final deliberations in December. The process also incorporates input from service partners like the Regina Police Service and Public Library. Council previously approved changes to adopt a service-based budget view and maintain a multi-year structure. While the new process requires several additional meetings, it is designed to increase accountability and ensure better alignment with Council's priorities.
  
  
• Today, a new permanent emergency shelter, New Beginnings Enhanced Emergency Shelter, is set to open. It will replace the temporary facility at The Nest Health Centre. The new shelter, located at the former Eagles Club site, will provide 50 beds and offer services including addiction support, cultural programming, meals, showers, laundry, and common areas. Although it won’t increase the total bed capacity, the shelter’s design aims to better support vulnerable individuals, including those actively using substances. The project, costing $6.8 million, is funded through federal and provincial contributions, with the City covering annual operating costs and owning the building. This permanent shelter marks an attempt to address a 255% rise in homelessness since 2015.
  
  
• Regina saw a notable decrease in both crime rates and crime severity in 2024, according to new data from Statistics Canada. The city's crime severity index dropped by 11%, while the overall crime rate declined by 7%, moving Regina to 11th in national rankings for severity, down from ninth the previous year. Deputy Police Chief Lorilee Davies credited higher police visibility and stronger community engagement as contributing factors. While Regina still ranks above the national average, Davies expressed relief at the city's progress, noting past years when it topped national crime rankings. She emphasized the need to continue improving, aiming to drop out of the top 20 altogether. Most Canadian cities with higher crime remain in Western Canada. So far in 2025, Regina’s crime is down across all categories except arson, which Davies identified as a “pressure point.”
  
  
• Regina’s Urgent Care Centre (UCC) is celebrating its first year of operation, having served over 41,000 patients - more than double the initial projections. The facility opened in July 2024 and aims to reduce strain on emergency departments. Services include diagnostics like X-rays and ultrasounds, as well as mental health and addictions support like counselling, prescriptions, and referrals. The Centre is staffed by a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, and lab technicians, and has been praised for its ability to provide same-day care. Health officials say the success of the UCC demonstrates the value of this new model of urgent care. Plans are underway to expand the model to other Saskatchewan cities, including Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and North Battleford.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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