There are 11 mayoral candidates in the 2024 Regina civic elections. 980 CJME sent out a Q&A to each candidate. The election is on Nov. 13, 2024.

Sandra Masters

Hometown: Regina

Embarrassing playlist song: “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus.

Why do you want to be Mayor of Regina?

Because there’s more work to do. I want to build on the progress we’ve made and finish the good work that we’ve started.

After four years of having the honour of being Mayor, my experiences and my belief in this City are stronger than ever. I also understand what is at stake.

I have and will continue to bring the passion, skills, relationships, and ideas needed to lead City Hall and continue to drive positive change in our community.

I believe in term limits for mayors so, if re-elected, it will be my second and final term. It’s my obligation to make sure the next leaders have the tools and planning in place to have accurate information for oversight, accountability, and growth.

How do you plan to address homelessness, given it’s not solely a municipal responsibility?

As Mayor, I have taken steps to address housing and community support needs in Regina. Working with the provincial government, the City of Regina has created new spaces within emergency shelters, supporting two low-barrier shelters and have secured a permanent location for an emergency shelter site. Additionally, we have developed roughly 83 supportive housing units and supported the creation of over 332 affordable housing units and support suites through the Housing Incentive Program.

A key investment of $10 million was made in the new YWCA Centre for Women and Families, comprising $4 million in ICIP funding and a $6 million gift of land. Furthering our commitment to accessible housing, we implemented a rent-to-own program in North Central through a memorandum of understanding with Silver Sage Housing and the provincial government, allowing vacant single-family homes to be used in rent-to-own and rent-to-equity programs developed by Silver Sage.

To provide additional support during colder months, we introduced a warming bus and warming spaces. My ongoing advocacy with other levels of government has led to vital investments in a complex needs shelter, additional supportive housing units, increased addiction treatment beds, enhanced street and mobile outreach services, and expanded training for care workers within post-secondary institutions.

If re-elected, I will continue advocating and creating partnerships for more supportive housing units, shelter spaces, and mental health & addiction treatment centers.

I will continue leveraging relationships with the feds and the province for program and capital funding for supportive and affordable housing, as well as pre-plan for the next Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI4).

Additionally, I will continue to foster partnerships with community-based organizations in a targeted way to maximize impacts and outcomes for a healthier city.

What makes you hopeful?

People. There are so many incredible individuals, organizations and businesses that are doing great work in advancing everything from supportive housing and recreational spaces to culture and art.

What do you think should be the city’s priority given Regina’s upcoming major projects, the debt, and how do you plan to fund them?

I am committed to planning and preparing for replacements to end-of-life facilities. To get government funding or even private donors, we need to have plans and designs in place to apply for that funding. Every time we fail to plan, we fail the city, and it costs taxpayers more money.

As Mayor, I have advocated to secure a design and $128 million dollars of federal and provincial money for an Indoor Aquatic facility. I have supported the library to finally, after 15 years, advance to costing design options and find other funding partners.

Our event centre is nearly 50 years old and will not last much longer — we need a plan, and that plan needs to be sequenced amongst other priorities. Our premier baseball diamond needs significant investment or to be replaced — we are investigating a public/private partnership there.

These are important pieces of infrastructure for quality of life, opportunities for our kids, talent attraction and retention, and attraction of new tourism dollars to our economy.

These are not vanity projects — these are amenities that have been foundational to our city for more than 50 years. They are part of the core services and our core purpose as a City, and the next generation deserves the same thing that was provided 50 years ago.

I refuse to kick the can down the road on these projects. I maintain inaction by multiple councils since 2009 has cost the city tens of millions of dollars.

It’s our job — our duty — to advance them, find partners and other sources of money, and have plans in place to make sure we don’t fail taxpayers.

Do you have a talent few people know about?

Once upon a time, I could play the accordion by ear.

What superpower would you want?

To understand peoples’ true intentions and motivations.

What are the top three items you would address in your first 100 days as Mayor?

1. Getting ready with the new council for the 2025 budget with a more fulsome review of where we are investing.
2. Establishing committees of the council, populated by both residents and council members to do some of the deeper work and to take the burden off the council floor.
3. Ensure that the work that’s been approved and the money that’s been invested to date by the previous council continues.

How do you plan to address the challenges of population growth in areas like infrastructure, housing, and public services?

We are already doing this. We are methodically planning for the repair and replacement of old infrastructure and building capacity within our service system for intensification and growth.

How will you engage residents to increase municipal voter turnout in Regina?

Municipal voter turnout is a challenge, not just here but in communities across the country. I wish I knew the perfect solution!

What I do know is that voting is incredibly important, especially at the municipal level, where decisions often have the most direct impact on our daily lives.

The issues we tackle — whether it’s infrastructure, public safety, or community programs — shape the very fabric of our city. When residents come out and vote, they’re helping to set the direction for our future.

What would you tell your 21-year-old self?

You’re not the opinion of someone who doesn’t know you.