Saskatoon Minute: Voter Registration, Urban Reserve, and Business License Fines

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

This Week In Saskatoon:

• The 2024 Municipal Election is coming up, and the City is encouraging people to register to vote. Pre-registration is open until October 22nd. Advance polls will run from November 1st to 4th at multiple locations, and a drive-through polling station will be open on November 9th at City Hall. Free transit passes will be available on Election Day. Voters can either cut out the pass from the Voter Information Guide or show a picture of it on their phones. More information is available on the City’s website.
  
  
• The City of Saskatoon is inviting residents to apply for volunteer positions on its various civic boards, committees, and commissions. Eligible applicants must reside in Saskatoon, except for some roles in the City's Controlled Corporations, and submit a resume along with two reference letters. Applications are due by 5:00 pm on October 31st, and appointments will be made at the December 18th City Council meeting. Full information is available online.
  
  
• A business owner is turning to fundraising and donations after receiving an $18,000 fine for operating without a business license. According to City bylaws, businesses must obtain a new license when relocating, as the license is tied to the physical address. Despite submitting paperwork, the business owner’s application was denied due to a missing building permit, and the City sent notices to an old address instead of calling or using registered mail. The City then issued a court summons and levied thousands of dollars in fines.

Last Week In Saskatoon:

• The Saskatoon Fire Department has issued a warning about the risks associated with e-scooter batteries after an electric scooter caused a house fire in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood. The fire resulted from a faulty battery that overheated, triggering a dangerous chemical reaction known as thermal runaway. Fire officials emphasized that using the wrong charger or purchasing from unreliable sources increases the risk of such incidents.
  
  
• The City of Saskatoon and Muskeg Lake Cree Nation signed a new agreement to establish the First Nation's third urban reserve at 125 Aspen Place. This marks Saskatoon's 11th urban reserve. The site will be adjacent to Muskeg Lake's first urban reserve, Asimakaniseekan Askiy, which was the first commercial urban reserve in Canada.
  
  
• Mark Arcand was re-elected as Chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council. He says he is focused on addressing social issues like homelessness, poverty, and addiction in Saskatoon. He emphasized the need for an Indigenous treatment center and more support programs for First Nations people. Arcand expressed concern over the lack of preparation for warm-up shelters as winter approached and criticized municipal governments for not listening to First Nations in the past. He also stressed the importance of prioritizing homelessness in the provincial election, calling for additional funding and resources for service providers.