Regina Minute: Issue 91

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

📅 This Week In Regina: 📅

• Council approved the 2026 operating budget, resulting in a 10.9% mill rate increase - the largest in two decades. Mayor Chad Bachynski says that the increase was necessary to replenish reserves, maintain services, and address aging infrastructure, despite affordability concerns. The budget also includes higher transit fares, parking fees, and reduced park maintenance, along with additional peace officers for bus safety. Capital spending for 2026 is set at $223.58 million, covering projects like the 11th Avenue Revitalization, the Indoor Aquatic Facility, and wastewater lift stations. Utility rates will rise 7.82% in 2026 and are projected to increase again in 2027. The budget passed narrowly with a 6-5 vote after several days of debate. Councillors Dan Rashovich, George Tsiklis, Mark Burton, Shanon Zachidniak, and Clark Bezo voted against the budget.
  
  
• Council rejected attempts to cancel plans for electric buses and the new Indoor Aquatic Facility (IAF), following advice from the City Solicitor that doing so could trigger costly legal and financial consequences. Councillor Clark Bezo suggested ending the City’s contract for 20 EV buses, but officials explained that the buses were already paid for, and cancelling deliveries could cost Regina up to $30 million and require returning $26.1 million in federal funding. Similarly, efforts to reduce the $313.6-million IAF budget by cutting waterpark features were unsuccessful, as the project is already in pre-construction and altering it would require expensive redesigns and risk breaching contracts. Mayor Chad Bachynski said that these projects have already been approved and that attempting to reverse them would likely be futile. Acting City Clerk Amber Ackerman confirmed that reopening the IAF decision required a formal reconsideration motion, which failed 3-7.
  
  
• Council approved a $7.2-million increase to the Regina Police Service’s (RPS) 2026 budget, bringing their total request to $116.1 million. The decision came after a 6-5 vote, despite calls from several residents and community delegates to freeze or cut police funding in favour of other City programs. Chief Lorilee Davies said that the budget reflects a “lean” approach, balancing wants versus needs while maintaining service levels across the city. The funding boost will support 11 additional staff in 2026 and another 10 in 2027, alongside 34 new officers funded by the provincial government, including six alternate response officers for downtown safety. RPS highlighted increasing demands, including over 1,700 mental-health related calls last year. Regina’s police budget now represents 19% of the City’s total operating budget, slightly lower than Saskatoon’s 25%.
  
  
• Speaking of the police service, a Regina Police Service constable improperly accessed confidential police records 67 times over more than three years, prompting Saskatchewan’s Privacy Commissioner to refer the case to the Attorney General for possible prosecution. Const. Clinton Duquette accessed personal information on six individuals between 2021 and 2024, including a former partner and others connected to her, viewing sensitive details such as investigative roles, charge history, and fingerprint serial numbers. The Commissioner found Duquette deliberately bypassed safeguards designed to prevent misuse. Despite the findings, Duquette received a one-day unpaid suspension, mandatory ethics and privacy training, and ongoing audit monitoring, while retaining full database access. Police said the officer was “going through some personal issues” at the time. The Privacy Commissioner recommended permanent revocation of database access and a zero-tolerance approach to breaches. Police Chief Lorilee Davies said the service is reviewing the report and questioned how zero-tolerance would function operationally. The case follows a separate, recent incident involving another Regina officer misusing police databases.
  
  
• Starting June 1st, 2026, departing passengers at Regina International Airport (YQR) will see the Passenger Facility Fee increase from $30 to $40, plus applicable taxes. The Regina Airport Authority say that airline landing and terminal fees will remain unchanged, keeping YQR among the lowest-cost airports in the country for carriers. The additional revenue from the fee will be invested in infrastructure, safety, security, air service development, and overall passenger experience to meet growing demand in southern Saskatchewan.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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