Saskatoon Minute: Hospital Beds, Coyote Sightings, and Civic Services Surveys

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• On Wednesday, at 9:30 am, there will be a meeting of the Governance and Priorities Committee. The Committee will review a report regarding improving Saskatoon's Civic Services Surveys. According to Administration, current surveys under-sample groups such as Indigenous residents, persons of colour, individuals with disabilities, and lower-income households, so an option that enhances demographic reporting while maintaining the current survey methodology is being recommended. The Committee will also discuss a previous request to declare Saskatoon a 2SLGBTQQAI+ Sanctuary City. The report suggests that such a declaration could be symbolic, but its long-term implications are unclear. Instead, the City has focused on initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion. Administration recommends continuing these efforts without pursuing the Sanctuary City declaration.
  
  
• The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday at 12:00 pm. The Committee will discuss several sponsorship requests, including the Annual Diversity Awards Gala 2025, a World Refugee Day 2025 event, and an event put on by the Thiruvalluvar Tamil Language School. A meeting of the Saskatoon Accessibility Advisory Committee, originally scheduled for March 14th, is cancelled due to a lack of agenda items. The Public Art Advisory Committee will meet on Friday at 2:30 pm. The agenda includes the 2025 Work Plan and reports from several Subcommittees.
  
  
• The City of Saskatoon is seeking public input on plans for a future train crossing at 8th Street and Wess Road, with options for either an overpass or an underpass. Officials noted that while an underpass presents challenges such as stormwater management and difficult ground conditions, an overpass is more straightforward to construct. The estimated project cost is between $40 million and $60 million, funded through developer fees as development progresses. Final design plans could be completed by this summer, but construction is not expected until 2028-2030. An online survey to gather feedback is open until March 17th.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• The Saskatchewan Health Authority has issued a public alert after Saskatoon recorded 37 overdoses in 24 hours, pointing to a "potent and potentially lethal substance" in circulation. The Saskatoon Fire Department has seen a sharp rise in overdose calls, with first responders administering life-saving measures, including naloxone and CPR. Saskatoon police, who typically do not respond to overdoses, have now been directed to attend calls to gather intelligence and disrupt drug distribution.
  
  
• The Saskatchewan government has allocated $15 million to add 109 acute care beds at Saskatoon City Hospital, aiming to alleviate pressure on healthcare services. The hospital's emergency department has been closing early due to a doctor shortage, prompting efforts to recruit staff for the expansion. Over the next 12 to 16 months, the hospital will add rehabilitation, brain injury, general medicine, and high-acuity beds. The Saskatchewan Health Authority says this will increase acute care capacity by 14% and improve patient experiences. Plans also include hiring 500 new staff and making facility renovations to support the additional beds.
  
  
• The Planning, Development, and Community Services Committee heard a report outlining a sharp rise in coyote sightings, increasing from 16 in 2022 to 214 in 2024. The report recommended a bylaw to ban wildlife feeding and a management plan incorporating aversion conditioning and, if necessary, targeted euthanasia. Officials cited factors such as declining pelt prices, hunting restrictions, and a growing rabbit population as contributing to the surge. The City is aiming to re-establish a healthy fear of humans in coyotes while promoting coexistence and public awareness. Some residents have raised safety concerns, with reports of individuals carrying baseball bats or bear spray while walking. Further discussions will determine the program's scope and budget before implementation.