Regina Minute: Permanent Shelter, Depleted Reserves, and an Indigenous Ceremony Site

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

This Week In Regina:

• City Hall is going to be quiet this week. There are no Council or Committee meetings, and the only items on the municipal schedule are Board of Revision hearings this morning and Tuesday morning at 9:00 am.
  
  
• The Ronald McDonald House is running a fundraiser to expand their services into Regina and Prince Albert. The organization currently only has a Saskatoon location. The House provides a safe, nearby place for families of children that are receiving health-care services. At present, the organization can only help about 20% of the families in the province that require their assistance. By expanding, they hope to serve about 50%. The campaign aims to raise $22 million.
  
  
• City Administration is urging Council to commission a long-term plan to restore emergency reserves. Recent approvals for additional spending have depleted the general reserve fund to $7.1 million, far below the recommended $23 million. Part of the reason for the lowered reserves is due to the City paying back the Canada Revenue Agency for wage subsidies received by two City-owned groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. A proposal for a strategic plan to replenish reserves and alter financial reporting is set to be discussed at the next Council meeting.

Last Week In Regina:

• The Executive Committee has approved funding for a $7.5 million plan to establish a permanent, City-owned emergency shelter. The exact location will be disclosed at the City Council meeting on June 12th, wherein Council will decide whether to proceed with the purchase. The City aims to replace its temporary shelter at the Nest Health Centre, which offers 55 beds but whose lease expires in summer 2025. The permanent shelter will accommodate the same number of people and is expected to provide better access to community services and public transit. The project will be funded with contributions from municipal, provincial, and federal governments.
  
  
• Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Stevens announced that he will not seek re-election, citing family commitments. Stevens originally intended to serve only two terms, describing his tenure as an eight-year arc. Despite finding his work rewarding, he emphasized the increasing demands of the Council position. He highlighted accomplishments like the community safety plan and environmental policies, but noted ongoing issues like homelessness. Regina's next civic election is scheduled for November 13th.
  
  
• Council has approved a five-year development plan for a site dedicated to Indigenous ceremonies, previously the King's Park campground. Elder Harry Francis from Piapot First Nation expressed hope that the site will help urban Indigenous people reconnect with their history and identity. The site, chosen for its natural setting away from city noise, will include two teepees and a trailer for washrooms, with plans for eight sweat lodges in the first year.