Andrew Stevens Ward 3

The courtyard outside of Regina's City Hall is now home to dozens of folks who struggle to secure housing or temporary shelter. Residents are justifiably concerned for many reasons. Yes, there's a role for the municipality to play in resolving this growing crisis. That goes without saying. But we can't do it without support from all three levels of government. Right now, volunteers and community organizations are shouldering most of the weight. Here are some important resources and contacts that residents can access if they want to influence change.

Here's a list of major 2023 construction projects in Ward 3. Have a look!

City of Regina 2023 Construction Projects

• Incidents of “wage theft” in Saskatchewan (broken down by industry)
• Migrant labour and labour rights
• Labour market inequality
• Gendered labour market outcomes
• Poverty rates
• Unfair labour practices
• Real wage stagnation

Members of the public wanted additional time to reflect on the Catalyst Committee projects, specifically the multi-use event centre (arena) that is tentatively planned for Regina's downtown. The City partnered with a third-party research firm to engage in an on-line and telephone survey. Here are the results.

Using funding from the federal government, the City of Regina is partnering with the North Central Family Centre to develop the latest Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) in the city's North Central community. Here are the details.

Budget season is always fun. Now that the dust has settled, let's talk about what Budget 2023-24 (Regina's first multi-year budget) means for residents. Join me on Facebook (@andrewstevensward3) for a live discussion about the budget and the findings from my survey on what Regina residents think should be done with the old Taylor Field site.

Zoom conversations with Councillor Waye Mason about inner city revitalization on December 10th, 12 PM.

In the spring of 2022, I joined fellow councillors and the Mayor in Halifax, Nova Scotia to explore opportunities for downtown and inner city revitalization. There's a lot we can learn about Halifax's approach to dealing with public investments in infrastructure, recreation, and cultural amenities. Like Regina, Halifax struggles with poverty, homelessness, and a perception that inner city streets are unsafe. In this live Zoom session, I speak with Councillor Waye Mason about how that municipality tackled the same issues that Regina is addressing right now.

There are thousands of residents in Regina eagerly awaiting their $500 cheques from the provincial government so they can buy groceries, pay rent, and keep the lights on. But many others are privileged enough to not need the help. Please consider donating this holiday season to one of Regina's many amazing not-for-profit organizations. Here are a few options...

This Council and City administration are trying to make some big changes when it comes to landfill diversion. Operating a dump is expensive, not to mention the environmental concerns. Plus there's money to be made off of selling recyclable materials, bio-gas, and waste-to-energy systems. That's why I appreciate when residents reach out and ask questions about how the blue bin recycling program works. Items you chuck in that bin doesn't magically turn into post-consumer waste products. Here are some details based on the exchange between City staff and a Ward 3 resident.

In 2011 the City of Regina released a concept for the old Taylor Field site that stated:

"We’ll develop a state-of-the-art residential neighbourhood. The design will seamlessly bring a mix of affordable and market-rate housing as well as new rental units within the new neighbourhood. Two, three and four storey townhouses and low-rise apartments could add 700 residential units. A neighbourhood-scale employment district could see over one hundred thousand square feet of commercial space for local business and professional services."

However, no formal neighbourhood plan was approved by Council. So I asked residents what they think should be built on the old Taylor Field site. Here's what I found.