Regina city council passes motion of confidence in city manager Niki Anderson
A motion regarding legal action against Regina’s city manager was on the agenda for the final city council meeting before budget deliberations next week.
Councillors Dan Leblanc and Andrew Stevens, along with a local advocate, filed a court application against city manager Niki Anderson saying administration did not follow through on a vote to include an outline of full operational funding to end homelessness in the city’s proposed budget for 2023.
Nine of the other members of city council submitted a motion of confidence in Anderson at the meeting on Wednesday afternoon.
Councillors Cheryl Stadnichuk, Bob Hawkins, Lori Bresciani, John Findura, Terina Nelson, Shanon Zachidniak, Jason Mancinelli, Landon Mohl and Mayor Sandra Masters submitted the motion.
The motion is meant to “affirm and convey [council’s] continued confidence in City Manager Niki Anderson” and “express its disappointment over the negative impact on City Council’s operational integrity and oversight that the initiated court action has created.”
All nine voted in favour of the motion. Coun. Leblanc and Stevens recused themselves.
Other items on the agenda included a new lease for the food bank, possible ward boundary changes and discussion on the rapid housing initiative.
FOOD BANK LEASE
After unanimously agreeing on the public notice bylaws, the council voted on the proposal by the Regina Food Bank, looking to take over a city lease.
Wanting to expand its hub, the Regina Food Bank was looking for a $100,000 one-time cash donation and to take over the lease at 1720 12th Ave. The food bank is also looking for funding for renovations of the property, including paving.
A first-of-it’s-kind facility in Canada, the multi space Food Bank would give more accessibility to those in need in the Regina community, according to Food Bank CEO John Bailey.
The vote by council was approved unanimously, 11-0.
CHANGING WARD BOUNDRIES
It seems as though the population in Regina has grown, making changes to wards necessary.
As per a city manager report, ward boundaries need to be reviewed due to there being more people than allowed in at least four wards.
By law, there can only be a variation of up to or below 10 per cent of the set ward population, which averages to 24,600 people per ward.
The findings so far are that wards one, two and four have population changes that exceed these limits and so a commission needs to review the data and make appropriate changes to the wards.
The data being used for the resizing is a combination of census data and the latest available figures.
OTHER AGENDA ITEMS
Council voted on sale of lane that the city owns to Cowessess First Nation.
Cowessess Chief Cadmus Delorme presented to executive committee that the First Nation wishes to build its health centre on that location. Council passed the vote 11-0.
Non-profit Daycare Centres also received a tax exemption for another three-year period. They will see a 40 per cent exemption so long as the property is being operated at least in part as a childcare centre and that it is properly licensed as one.
The bargaining agreement between the firefighting union and the city saw $1.75M towards the program to enhance training, union and making the force more conducive for responders.
Amendments were also presented to the Regina Civic Employees Long Term Disability Plan, trying to keep up with current income tax rates. Council voted in favour of the amendments.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
W5 Investigates | Daniel Jolivet insists he's not a murderer and says he has proof
Convicted murderer Daniel Jolivet, in prison for the past 30 years, has maintained his innocence since the day he was arrested. W5 reviews the evidence he painstakingly assembled while behind bars. W5's documentary 'Buried Evidence' airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.

China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky
The massive white orb drifting across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media. A look at what's known about the balloon crossing the U.S. and what isn't.
One in four Canadian cancer patients still experiencing cancelled appointments: survey
In the field of cancer treatment, nothing is more important than diagnosing and treating the problem as quickly as possible — but according to new survey data, about one in four Canadian cancer patients report that they are still experiencing cancelled or postponed appointments.
Oldest preserved vertebrate brain found in 319-million-year-old fish fossil
The oldest preserved vertebrate brain has been found in a 319-million-year-old fossilized fish skull that was removed from an English coal mine over a century ago.
Russia's Medvedev says more U.S. weapons supplies mean 'all of Ukraine ... will burn'
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has said the supply of more advanced U.S. weaponry to Ukraine will only trigger more retaliatory strikes from Russia, up to the extent of Russia's nuclear doctrine.
Canada tracked suspected Chinese spy balloon over Canadian airspace since last weekend: sources
The suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that was found floating over sensitive military sites in the western United States had been tracked by Canada's government since last weekend as it passed through Canadian airspace, sources tell CTV News.
Former NHL-er Ted Nolan among Indigenous players honoured in new hockey card series
It took 40 years, but former NHL player and coach Ted Nolan is now one of eight Indigenous ex-NHL-ers being honoured hockey trading cards as a part of Upper Deck's First Peoples Rookie Card series.
Indian police nab over 2,000 men for illegal child marriages
Indian police have arrested more than 2,000 men in a crackdown on illegal child marriages involving girls under the age of 18 in a northeastern state, officials said Saturday.
B.C. man who was mistaken for target, shot by police in 2013 has lawsuit dismissed
A B.C. man who was mistaken for the target in a police takedown and shot by an officer in 2013 has had his lawsuit alleging negligence dismissed.