My Priorities
As Mayor, I am determined to build a better, stronger, and safer community by getting back to basics. This is how we will get it done:
Community and Safety
According to a report from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Regina's crime rate has slightly increased from 2022-2023. Regina ranks 9th when compared to the rest of the country on the Crime Severity Index, compared to 2016 where Regina ranked number 1. I believe that we need to keep the police budget stable and suitable, while also recognizing that many social services go hand in hand with policing. We need to find that balance between the police budget and social services. A great example is Regina's Street Team, a community effort that has been helping many residents within the city.
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Infrastructure & Services
Going forward, I will prioritize roads, sidewalks, and other key infrastructure, as they are our most basic needs in a thriving city. However, at our current rate, you would not guess that we currently have a budget of $16.5 million for residential road repairs. While it is great to want to build brand-new facilities, we need to get back to basics and focus on our infrastructure which has been on the backburner for many many years.
Affordability
I believe that everyone is feeling the cost of living right now, and that's why I will be pushing to balance the budget by cutting unnecessary spending, putting a stop to trips out of province, and putting an end to vanity projects.
Homelessness & Housing
When addressing homelessness within our community, I believe that we have to address the root causes, which would primarily be addictions and mental health. However, it is crucial to recognize that these root causes are not solely a municipal responsibility. Despite this, it does not mean that we cannot take the lead in this, as we see and deal with it daily, we can lead by collaborating with all levels of government to find real solutions that meet our complex needs. One of those solutions could be with the dozens of abandoned and boarded-up houses, these can be brought forward and used for temporary or permanent housing.
Debt, debt, and more debt
While I believe that the city needs to spend its budget in a fiscally responsible manner, there needs to be some sort of consensus on when enough is enough. In January of 2024, the city council had gotten approval to raise the debt limit from $450m to $660m. And now, city council wants to raise it yet again. This has to come to an end and the city needs to learn to live within its means, not just raise its debt limit to compensate for overspending.
Asbestos Water Pipes
Regina currently has over 500kms worth of Asbestos Cement water pipes in the city. AC water pipes are the main cause of water main breaks in the city. The city has a 50 year plan to replace AC water pipes, but I believe that this timeline is insufficient. The city needs to update its timeline of replacement of AC pipes, and match the timeline of replacement of Lead Service Connections at a minimum, which is currently 15 years. There is so much more the city should be doing when it comes to AC pipes, and I plan to bring these concerns, and hopefully solutions to city hall.