Council to discuss ice time dispute, Dewdney renaming, emergency shelter

It could be a long day at Regina City Hall.

Council is set to discuss a slew of issues, both new and old, on Wednesday.

Emergency shelter motion

Wednesday’s agenda showed that Ward 3 Councillor Andrew Stevens submitted a notice of motion intending to reopen the search for a permanent emergency homeless shelter in the city.

City administration identified two properties on 1440 and 1420 Albert Street in North Central for the location of the long-awaited shelter, but council voted it down 6-5 in June.

At that same meeting, council also directed administration to return with a status report in October about the issue.

Stevens voiced his frustration with council’s decision during the meeting.

The city’s lease with the current temporary shelter at the Nest Health Centre expires next summer.

Renaming Dewdney

Council is also set to discuss a possible name change for Dewdney Avenue, an issue which was table in June.

If approved, the street would be renamed as soon as practicable. A new name would have to be decided on by the first quarter of 2025.

The call for a name change is related to Edgar Dewdney’s legacy as a key supporter of the Indian Residential School System, and the fact he withheld rations from First Nations people as a means of getting them onto reserves.

Increasing the city’s debt limit

During last week’s executive committee meeting, it was decided that council will seek approval from the Saskatchewan Municipal Board to increase its debt limit from $660 million to $890 million.

There was also a recommendation to authorize city staff to negotiate with financial institutions in order to obtain long-term financing for the city’s indoor aquatic facility while the city awaits a response from the municipal board.

The maximum amount the city would borrow for the facility was set at $150 million.

Ice time at the Brandt Centre

A dispute over ice time will also be brought to city council on Wednesday.

Mayor Sandra Masters and Ward 2 Councillor Bob Hawkins have submitted a notice of motion over the clash between a senior men’s hockey league and a private minor hockey program over ice time at the Brandt Centre.

The league’s players have raised concerns about not getting access to ice time ever since the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL), which manages the centre, gave control of ice time that isn’t being taken by the Regina Pats to the Young Guns Hockey Academy.

The matter likely will not be resolved on Wednesday’s meeting.

At least 10 delegations are expected to address council.