Regina Minute: Urgent Care, Committee Dissolution, and a Massive Tax Increase

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

This Week In Regina:

• There will be a meeting of City Council on Wednesday at 1:00 pm. The agenda includes complimentary City facility passes for volunteers and options for the restructuring of REAL. A meeting of the Regina Appeal Board, originally scheduled for Thursday, is rescheduled for February 20th.
  
  
• Regina's proposed 2025 budget includes an 8.5% property tax increase. Alongside this, a 5.82% utility rate hike is also proposed. We’ve been calling for the City to get spending under control. In fact, we think a 20% tax cut is not only possible, but necessary. If you agree, please sign our petition here!
  
  
• Regina Transit drivers say they are increasingly facing harassment and violence, with a significant rise in incidents since 2019. Data from Regina Police Service shows a 75% increase in calls related to transit issues, with 36 reports of violence in 2024 alone. Bus operators say they are dealing with verbal abuse daily, and physical attacks occur on average once or twice a month. Drivers are seeking more support, such as the ability to enforce bans, road supervisors on all shifts, and increased police presence at transit hubs. The City of Regina is exploring solutions like adding peace officers to buses.

Last Week In Regina:

• Some residents of the Glen Elm Mobile Home Community have received eviction notices due to what is being called irreparable water and sewage infrastructure issues. The notices give residents until the end of April to relocate their homes or sell them. Glen Elm Properties is offering residents up to $10,000 for relocation costs, but many feel this amount is insufficient to cover moving and installation fees. Those who cannot move their homes will receive a $6,000 reduction in their removal fee, though residents say this money is just to cover demolition and none will go to the owner.
  
  
• In its first six months of operation, Regina's Urgent Care Centre has treated over 20,000 patients, offering a variety of medical services such as electrocardiograms, ultrasounds, X-rays, and laboratory tests. The facility, which opened in July 2024, has also provided mental health and addiction services to 774 patients. Despite operating 24/7, staffing challenges have resulted in reduced hours at the $18.7 million centre. This facility marks the province's first attempt at urgent care, with plans for additional centres in other cities.
  
  
• Regina City Council has voted to dissolve Community and Social Impact Regina (CSIR), an arm’s-length committee created to address crime and social inequities. The decision aims to improve efficiency by bringing its responsibilities back under City Administration. CSIR, which became operational in 2023, played a role in initiatives like the Regina Street Team and Indigenous ceremony spaces. The $1.6-million budget allocated for 2025 will partially cover dissolution costs, with City staff set to report on remaining funds and program transitions in the fall. This marks the second municipal entity recently returned to City administration, following Tourism Regina.