‘Not quite done yet:’ Sandra Masters to seek re-election as Regina’s mayor

Regina Mayor Sandra Masters announced Thursday she plans to run for re-election in the Nov. 13 municipal election.

“At the end of the day, it’s my intention to run. We have a lot of work to do, we’ve done a lot of work (and) we have a lot of work to do,” she told reporters after the annual State of the City address.

“I’m just not quite done yet. I think we need to keep moving the city forward.”

Masters said that seeking a second term was something she had discussed with people in her inner circle and that she had initially planned to announce it later in the year.

She said municipal infrastructure and investment are at the top of her mind for her re-election campaign.

Masters also pointed to proper planning for investment along with financial accountability and transparency on the part of the city.

When asked, Masters said her decision wasn’t directly tied to the $128-million funding announcement for a new aquatic facility earlier Thursday morning, since Masters had originally run on such a proposal in 2020.

“Knowing that I have the State of the City address and knowing that I was reflecting upon what I’ve learned, the work that we’ve managed to complete, the work that is still in process and still on the books to  be done, I just thought I would announce my commitment to the City of Regina that I will run for mayor again,” she said.

She also listed safety and affordability as key issues as well, which she spoke about during her address.

Masters became the first woman to be elected as Regina’s mayor in 2020, when she defeated incumbent Michael Fougere.

Other priorities she listed were things she mentioned during her fireside chat with Pam Klein in the address, like the North Central Revitalization Project, which passed unanimously in council in February.

It involves a community-led land trust.

“It was the idea that we would take a youth-centred approach to neighbourhood revitalization, kind of on an incremental basis,” she said.

“It’s about housing. It’s about safety. It’s about cleanliness. It’s about revitalizing park space. It’s about programming at our mâmawêyatitân centre. It’s about … connecting folks in North Central outside of the community to opportunity but also (to) connect the community into North Central so that there’s not a barrier to understanding about (it being) a really incredible neighbourhood that needs some help.

“And we want to try to help them and have these young folks be a real part of that process.”

Downtown

During her address, Masters spoke about efforts to enliven Regina’s downtown with initiatives like the renovation of the Globe Theatre, which she called a catalyst project.

“Great cities have great downtowns. That’s a full stop,” she said. “Tell me a city you’ve gone to where you go to experience something and their downtown isn’t fabulous.”

Masters said the Globe Theatre is the only permanent theatre of its kind of the country.

She said the Globe’s artistic director told the mayor she has already received letters from across the country requesting to perform plays at the theatre.

“Art and culture are massively important when it comes to a city for growth,” she said.

Safety

Masters also acknowledged issues of homelessness, addictions, poverty and crime during the address.

She touted the expansion of services in partnership with the province, and also praised the efforts of organizations like the YWCA.

“In the last 2 1/2 years, we have had what is now 70 shelter spaces created, we have had 60 warming spaces created (and) we have created 24 24/7 supportive housing units with another 20 just announced and a commitment to 30 more,” she said.

Masters also mentioned the expansion of city mental health services as well as a community safety team that’s out patrolling the streets.

The mayor also praised Regina Fire and Protective Services as well as the Regina Police Service for the work they do.