Saskatoon Minute: Issue 102

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

📅 This Week In Saskatoon: 📅

• We hosted a Pints & Politics event in Saskatoon with our friends at the Saskatchewan Institute, and it was a fantastic evening. The casual, no-agenda format gave attendees a relaxed space to connect with like-minded people, meet our team, and chat about the latest political issues. Conversations flowed easily, covering a wide range of topics, and everyone seemed to enjoy the opportunity to exchange ideas in a friendly setting. Overall, it was a great way to bring the community together, spark discussion, and strengthen connections. Thanks to all who came! We’re looking forward to hosting more events like this in the future.
  
  
• Saskatoon City Hall has rejected a request from the Saskatoon Iranian Cultural Association to fly Iran’s historic flag, arguing it violates a policy prohibiting flags of “other countries.” The association appealed, noting the flag has not been in official use since the 1979 revolution and represents freedom rather than the current Iranian state. They emphasized the importance of showing support for Iranians protesting oppression, especially following recent violent crackdowns. City Hall’s policy, updated in September 2025, mirrors a similar move by Regina and applies broadly to national flags, including modified versions. Saskatoon City Council will review the appeal next week, with the association hoping to fly the flag for the Persian New Year on March 21st. The association highlighted that other Canadian cities have allowed the traditional flag and stressed the symbolic message of solidarity it sends to Iranians.
  
  
• City Administration has outlined plans to prioritize corridor development along the Link Bus Rapid Transit system, focusing next on 22nd Street, 8th Street, and Woodlawn. The City divided corridor areas into 10 zones, with work already underway on the Nutana and College Drive corridors, which include initiatives like rezoning for multi-unit housing, widening sidewalks, and adding park spaces and pathways. An evaluation framework with six weighted categories - market demand, public interest, servicing, project alignment, connectivity, public realm, and equity - guided the prioritization, with developer and public surveys indicating highest demand along University Heights, 8th Street, and 22nd Street. Some Councillors questioned the prioritization, noting corridors like Preston scored highly in market demand but were ranked lower due to lower connectivity to downtown. City Administration indicated that further policy amendments, rezoning, and infrastructure planning are tied to the budget and ongoing community consultation, and they are exploring funding models for future corridor projects. The next steps will focus on implementing recommendations while aligning with the Link Bus Rapid Transit plans.
  
  
• A recent report on Saskatoon’s homeless population reveals it now roughly equals the size of the town of Watrous, with 1,931 people experiencing homelessness as of the October 2025 Point in Time Count. Of those, 725 live on the street, 327 in emergency shelters, 444 in transitional housing, and 237 are considered “hidden homeless,” including couch surfing or staying in abandoned buildings. The data shows that 29.8% of those counted have always lived in Saskatoon, 43% have lived there more than five years, and 27.2% less than five years. The City is using these findings to guide policy and planning, including affordable housing development and expansion of shelters, though most social services remain under provincial and federal responsibility. Since joining the federal Housing Accelerator Fund in 2024, Saskatoon has approved 756 affordable housing units, with 298 already issued permits, as the City works to address rising needs and prepare for its next full survey in 2027.
  
  
• Proposed safety upgrades to Millar Avenue are on hold as the City consults with stakeholders about how to balance safety improvements with business concerns. The plan includes redesigning the intersection at Millar Avenue and 51st Street and adding pedestrian and cycling pathways along a 4.2-kilometre stretch between 43rd Street and Marquis Drive, but businesses worry the changes could disrupt traffic flow, property access, and deliveries in the North Industrial area. Safety concerns are significant, with data showing 161 collisions at the Millar-51st intersection and another 153 nearby between 2020 and 2024, including one fatality. Pedestrian advocates argue improvements are needed because the street currently lacks sidewalks and has poor lighting, making it unsafe for workers who walk or take transit. Business representatives say they support safer infrastructure but want solutions that minimize disruptions and costs, with the project estimated at about $9 million. Both sides say a compromise will be necessary as the City continues consultations on the proposed redesign.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

🪙 This Week’s Sponsor: 🪙

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