Regina Minute: Issue 83

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• The Executive Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. The Committee will look to approve the Playground Upgrade Prioritization Framework to guide funding allocations from the 2026 Playground Replacement & Restoration Program, pending approval of the 2026/2027 budget. If the recommended $1 million is approved, $600,000 will go toward upgrading playgrounds to meet the Accessible Playground Design Standard, while $400,000 will support community-led accessibility initiatives through the Community Investment Grants Program. Authority will be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of City Planning & Community Services to manage grant criteria, fund distribution, and agreements for donations or equivalent funding exceeding $100,000. Council will still need to give final approval at its November 5th meeting.
  
  
• The Committee will also discuss authorizing the City to apply for the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF) to support a Preliminary Design Study for the Wastewater Capacity Upgrades - Linear Relief project, estimated at $1 million. If approved, the project could receive up to $733,300 through a cost-sharing agreement with federal and provincial governments. Authority would be delegated to the Deputy City Manager of City Planning & Community Services, to apply for funding, negotiate and approve agreements, and manage related procurement for consulting and professional services over $750,000. The City would also commit to meeting CHIF requirements, covering its share of costs, and fulfilling legislative, environmental, and Indigenous consultation obligations. If recommendations are approved by the Committee, they will still need to be approved by Council on November 5th.
  
  
• Council has approved a bylaw allowing the Safe Public Spaces Act to take effect locally, giving police new authority to seize and charge individuals for carrying street weapons such as bear spray, knives, or needles. Regina became the fourth Saskatchewan city to adopt the act, following Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Yorkton. Councillors Victoria Flores, David Froh, and Shanon Zachidniak opposed the bylaw, arguing it risks criminalizing public health issues by classifying hypodermic needles as weapons and could lead to a punitive approach to addictions care. Flores said the policy lacks evidence-based support and may conflict with harm reduction efforts.
  
  
• Council has also approved the City’s 2026 - 2029 strategic plan, outlining a refreshed vision focused on fiscal responsibility, infrastructure renewal, and community well-being. The plan identifies four main priorities: infrastructure, vibrancy, livability, and prosperity. A key goal is to keep property taxes among the lowest 25% of comparable Canadian cities, following this year’s 7.33% increase. The City is also pledging to address an estimated $655 million in deferred maintenance and complete major projects, including the new indoor aquatic centre, an Indigenous ceremony site, and water network expansions. Environmental sustainability, previously a core pillar, has been redefined as a guiding principle rather than a standalone priority. The plan ties into Regina’s ongoing review of its Official Community Plan, with updated projections suggesting the City’s population could reach 370,000 by 2051.

• Regina’s École Wilfrid Walker Elementary School is set to become the first in the city with a fully accessible playground, designed to ensure all children can play side by side. The new play area will feature a rubberized surface and inclusive equipment, replacing the existing sand and wood-chip grounds that create barriers for children using mobility aids. The $315,000 project is halfway through its fundraising goal, supported by community events and local partnerships. Ward 5 Councillor Sarah Turnbull, a long-time advocate for accessible recreation, championed a City policy requiring new playgrounds to include accessible features such as hard surfaces and inclusive structures. School principal Ian Mitchell said the project has unified the community and will make the school more welcoming to families of children with disabilities. The new playground is expected to open by the start of the next school year.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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