Regina Minute: Issue 74

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• There will be a City Council meeting at 1:00 pm on Wednesday. The agenda includes another discussion about encampment protocols. Councillors are considering creating designated encampment sites as an approach to homelessness. Ward 6 Councillor Victoria Flores is proposing directing City Administration to identify potential locations and develop a community engagement plan. Currently, the City manages encampments through safety assessments, outreach by the Regina Street Team, and connections to housing and social services, with enforcement and clean-up when necessary. Flores argued that this approach disrupts outreach efforts and increases stress for residents, making it harder for people to access help. If Council approves the amendment, Administration will review best practices from other Canadian cities and report back in November. 
  
  
• The Executive Committee has delayed a decision on replacing its aging bus fleet after reports showed the City is not on track to meet its climate goals. The City needs to replace up to 49 buses between 2027 and 2030, and staff have recommended refurbished diesel buses as a cost-effective option. Regina has already purchased 20 electric buses and chargers through a federal cost-sharing program, but that funding is no longer available. Climate advocates warned that choosing diesel would undermine emissions targets and delay the City’s goal of a fully electric transit fleet by 2039. Some Councillors acknowledged that diesel buses may conflict with the City’s Energy & Sustainability Framework, which aims for a 52% emissions reduction by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050. The Committee will revisit the bus decision next month.
  
  
• Tourism Regina has opened a new visitor kiosk at Regina International Airport, expanding its merchandising and marketing efforts. The kiosk sells the City’s "I Love Regina" merchandise, including T-shirts, candles, scents, socks, and a squishmallow of the Black-capped Chickadee, Regina’s official bird. Previously, these items were only available at City Hall or online, making the airport location convenient for arriving and departing travellers. Staff at the booth will also provide trip planning assistance and answer questions about local attractions. The kiosk operates Wednesday through Sunday. The airport location was chosen for its high visibility between check-in and baggage claim areas. Sales of the merchandise line have been strong since its launch, with T-shirts proving most popular. Tourism Regina plans to expand its product offerings and explore additional retail locations in the future.
  
  
• Six renovated social housing units at Regency Gardens have been completed through a joint federal and provincial government initiative, marking the third phase of a 115-unit project. The $3.35-million investment, funded through Canada’s National Housing Strategy Community Housing Initiative (CCHI), focused on redesigning the units to accommodate larger families, providing some six-bedroom homes. Regina Housing Authority officials noted the renovations help remove families from the waitlist, as previously four-bedroom units were the largest available. This project is part of a broader $585-million, ten-year federal-provincial agreement for multi-year housing repairs and renovations across Saskatchewan.

• Regina hosted its 23rd annual I Love Regina Day, featuring a variety of activities for residents to enjoy. The event included free meals, children’s activities, live local entertainment, and Indigenous programming. Mayor Chad Bachynski noted the importance of events like this in bringing people together and fostering civic pride. As part of the celebration, the City announced a partnership with the Regina Pats for the 2025-26 season, with the first I Love Regina Pats game set for November 4th at the Brandt Centre. The game will feature merchandise, a pre-game party, and giveaways. 

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