Regina Minute: Relief Concerns, Treatment Fund, and the Police Plane Returns

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

This Week In Regina:

• The Accessibility Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday at 4:00 pm. The Committee will deal with 2025 meeting dates, the Quarter One 2025 Accessibility Plan Update, and the Indoor Aquatic Facility Accessibility Update, among other items.
  
  
• There will be a City Council meeting on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. Council will receive the 2024 Election Expenses and Contribution Disclosure Report, as well as discuss opting into SK Recycles’ community-led model where the City will continue to collect curbside recycling but no longer be responsible for processing recycled materials. Council will also reconsider the fluoridation of Regina’s water supply and look to declare a “Houselessness Crisis.”
  
  
• The Regina Police Service will open a new office at Cornwall Centre in 2025 to support its downtown safety team, which includes both police officers and alternative response officers. While the office won't be open to the public, it aims to improve visibility and deter crime in the area. The Cornwall Centre's general manager believes the presence of officers will provide peace of mind to the four million visitors the mall attracts annually. Mayor Chad Bachynski sees the partnership as a valuable step toward enhancing downtown safety. The official opening date of the office will be announced in the spring.

Last Week In Regina:

• The Regina Police Service's Aerial Support Unit (ASU) resumed operations after months of repairs, with the aircraft assisting in nearly 60 service calls and aiding in 13 arrests during its first seven shifts. The Cessna 182T had been grounded since April 2024 due to damage during routine maintenance. The ASU, launched in January 2023, was funded with a combination of City and provincial contributions totalling approximately $1.5 million. While the aircraft is valued for crime prevention and emergency response, it has faced criticism regarding over-policing and noise disturbances.
  
  
• Business owners near the new homeless shelter location in Regina's Heritage area expressed concern about the lack of financial support following Council's changes to a previously proposed relief fund. The former Council had promised compensation for businesses affected by the shelter, but recent amendments removed specific mentions of a relief program. While the City intends to maintain dialogue with the community, business owners feel that financial impacts need to be addressed more concretely. The new shelter, which is on schedule for a July opening, will provide 55 beds and various support services. A Good Neighbourhood Plan is being developed, which includes community consultation and efforts to address concerns like waste and safety.
  
  
• It was announced that Regina will receive $667,000 from the federal Emergency Treatment Fund to support responses to the opioid crisis. The funding will be allocated to local non-profits and Indigenous organizations to purchase safe supplies, add vehicles for client transport, and hire peer workers. The initiative is part of a two-year deal with Health Canada, with the funds being distributed through an expression of interest process. This grant is in addition to the City's $500,000 annual harm reduction program, which already supports various community-based initiatives.