Saskatoon Minute: Issue 91

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

📅 This Week In Saskatoon: 📅

• Council narrowly voted 6-5 to study the possibility of relocating and redeveloping the 94-year-old Wildwood Golf Course. The proposal, put forward by Councillor Zach Jeffries, would require any new course to match or exceed the current one and maintain cross-country ski access. Council members heard strong public interest, with multiple letters opposing the move and residents expressing nostalgia and concern for the popular east-side course. Administration could not provide cost estimates, noting that a full feasibility study, expected to take about a year, would address this. Any relocation, if pursued, could take 10 to15 years to implement. Despite opposition, Council members in favour argued the study would clarify whether redevelopment is feasible without prematurely closing the course.
  
  
• Riversdale business leaders say they have been caught off guard by City homelessness initiatives. Ephithymia Kutsogiannis, Chair of the Riversdale Business Improvement District, criticized City Hall for not consulting local businesses about the location of a new warming centre and other supportive housing projects. She highlighted concerns about the concentration of social services in Riversdale, citing business closures and residents leaving due to conditions. City Council approved a reduced-rate lease for the warming centre, with operations contracted to the Saskatoon Tribal Council, and also approved the purchase of six properties in Riversdale and Pleasant Hill for supportive housing and homelessness services. Kutsogiannis called for halting further services in Riversdale and relocating existing facilities. Councillors expressed mixed reactions. Mayor Cynthia Block received support for seeking more input from residents and businesses on future homelessness projects.
  
  
• Speaking of social services, the City is using federal funding to purchase several vacant lots for supportive and affordable housing developments. Originally, funding was set aside for a project by Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, but delays in securing operational funding led the City to redirect the money to properties it can prepare for other supportive housing partners. The lots include 101, 103, and 105 Avenue O South, as well as 1001 20th Street West, with a combined federal contribution of over $1 million. The City plans to work with Indigenous partners to develop supportive housing, addressing the high proportion of unhoused Indigenous residents. Additional land north of Optimist Park, including 3.16 acres owned by Imperial Oil Limited and city property, will also be purchased for development with community input. Council approved the acquisitions and motions ensuring local residents and businesses are consulted on nearby housing projects. The City emphasized that ownership will eventually transfer to development partners, not remain under City control. Specialized housing for seniors with complex needs will also be explored as part of these initiatives.
  
  
• Former NHL defenceman Rich Pilon may soon be able to operate a horse-drawn carriage business in Saskatoon after a two-year delay at City Hall. Pilon’s wife spoke to the City’s Transportation Committee, explaining that they had already run winter carriage rides outside the City and wanted to formalize the business within Saskatoon. Pilon applied for a business licence in December 2023, but City officials noted no existing protocol for licensing unregulated vehicles on City streets, delaying approval. Comparisons were made to the Pedal Pub, which received a temporary exemption while bylaws were updated, highlighting inconsistencies in how such requests are handled. City officials now plan to allow Pilon to operate under a pilot project for the rest of the winter, after which the City will evaluate the business and consider bylaw changes. Mayor Cynthia Block noted that horse-drawn carriages have previously operated under temporary exemptions, but a formal licence had never been granted. The pilot project could pave the way for permanent regulations enabling similar enterprises in Saskatoon.
  
  
• Saskatoon-based Pisim Power is proposing an Indigenous-led multi-corridor infrastructure project spanning from the Pacific Coast to Hudson Bay in Manitoba, aiming to involve First Nations in equity participation and decision-making. The project could include railways, green energy, pipelines, and potentially new paved roads, with the company handling business planning, due diligence, and financing through the First Nation Finance Authority. So far, Pisim has consulted with about 35 of the roughly 110 First Nation communities near the proposed corridor and has gained unanimous support from Prince Albert City Council, which sees the project as a boost for sustainable infrastructure and local trade. Pisim says that Indigenous-led projects create employment and training opportunities while also helping industry expedite large-scale developments, potentially saving years in project timelines. The company is also exploring partnerships in the US and discussions with provincial governments in Saskatchewan and Alberta to strengthen east-west trade and development.

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