Masters feels more public consultation needed for proposed new library

Mayor Sandra Masters is defending her decision to vote against demolishing the Regina Public Library’s current downtown branch.

On Tuesday, the library’s board of directors voted 6-2 in favour of demolishing the existing building since it needs $50 million in upgrades to keep it up to standards. Masters and Coun. John Findura were the dissenting voters.

Masters explained why she voted against demolishing the building.

“I just voted against the process to date. This is about bringing community along and really sharing a collective impact that a modern library can have for our community,” she said Thursday. “I think the downtown library needs to be a place that needs to be expanded.

“In terms of serving the community, there’s tons of examples for how it can serve the community. Calgary’s library is the No. 1 tourist attraction.”

While the idea of a new library has been discussed for over 10 years, Masters feels she wants to make sure the city gets it right for when that day eventually comes.

“It has been going on for a long time. A lot of (the work) has not necessarily been shared with or included with the public,” she added.

“They’ve done public engagement — there’s been stuff brought along — but in terms of sharing that message and building champions within the community to carry forward the initiative, I don’t believe that’s happened and really that will be undertaken over the next couple of months.”

The next steps for getting a new library built will now mean bringing the recommended build before the newly formed catalyst committee, which is currently tasked with reviewing a number of major projects proposed for Regina.

The catalyst committee will then decide how to proceed with each project.