Regina Minute: Issue 73

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• The Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:00 am. The Committee will be discussing the City's encampment response protocols, focusing on how to address the growing homelessness issue. The City is considering a multi-sector approach, with weekly Encampment Response Committee meetings that include City departments, provincial agencies, service providers, and the Regina Street Team. The protocols involve identifying and assessing encampments, providing on-site outreach and essential services, and coordinating decommissioning when there are safety, health, or bylaw concerns. During decommissioning, support services will continue to connect individuals to shelters or emergency housing, with sites monitored afterward to ensure compliance. Indigenous-led and trauma-informed programs are being emphasized due to the overrepresentation of Indigenous people among those experiencing homelessness. The Committee will also consider the lack of permanent supportive housing and low-barrier shelters and look into how the City can expand access to these resources. 
  
  
• The Committee will also discuss the City’s transit fleet options, focusing on the need to replace up to 49 conventional buses between 2027 and 2030. Administration is recommending the purchase and possible refurbishment of diesel buses to manage costs and maintain the fleet. Battery electric buses (BEBs) and hybrid buses were considered, but BEBs would require an estimated $108 million additional funding and are constrained by limited federal grants and the current provincial power grid. Diesel buses, while more cost-effective over a 17-year lifespan, would produce higher greenhouse gas emissions. Refurbishment of existing buses is a short-term solution but may increase emissions over time. Public input showed support for fleet electrification, though fewer residents are willing to pay for green initiatives.
  
  
• Also on the agenda is the City's Corporate Climate Adaptation Strategy (CCAS), which aims to prepare the City for current and future climate impacts. The strategy is designed to increase resilience across all City services, protect vulnerable populations, and incorporate Indigenous perspectives and knowledge. It identifies eight key action areas, including infrastructure resilience, drought preparedness, stormwater management, environmental water quality, tree and nature protection, building operations, emergency response, and proactive seasonal service delivery. The strategy also emphasizes staff training, planning updates, resilient infrastructure design, and public education. Immediate steps include working with Elders on Indigenous environmental teachings and integrating climate resilience into hazard and emergency planning. 
  
  
• The Committee will review the second annual update on Renewable Regina 2050, which reports on the City’s progress in implementing the Energy & Sustainability Framework (ESF) for 2023 and 2024. The ESF guides the City toward net-zero emissions and 100% renewable energy by 2050, with a 2030 interim goal of reducing emissions by 52%. While some progress has been made - such as expanded waste programs, net-zero new facilities, and solar installations - many actions are behind schedule or at risk due to funding limitations and external policy changes. Corporate emissions decreased 5% from 2023, and community emissions fell 4%, but both fell short of the 2024 targets. Key accomplishments include youth transit programs, expanded residential retrofits, and the delivery of seven electric buses. Future work focuses on energy retrofits, solar expansion, and integration with the Corporate Climate Adaptation Strategy. Challenges remain in meeting interim targets, securing adequate funding, and aligning with evolving provincial policies. 
  
  
• Concerned Regina citizens hosted an open-mic “lunch-and-learn” at City Hall to discuss homelessness and encampment strategies ahead of the upcoming Council discussion. The event allowed people experiencing homelessness to share struggles and call for more support. Some emphasized the need for permanent housing rather than new recreational projects. Attendees advocated for maintaining basic services at encampments - including bathrooms, potable water, garbage collection, and public transit - until residents are permanently housed. They also called for the repeal of laws that criminalize homelessness, such as restrictions on tents in public spaces. Organizers stressed the importance of including the voices of those directly affected in policy decisions rather than relying on top-down strategies. Ward 8 Councillor Shanon Zachidniak said that the gathering exemplified democracy and encouraged similar events. 

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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