Regina mayor happy with municipal revenue sharing in provincial budget
Regina’s Mayor Sandra Masters said money in Wednesday’s 2023-24 provincial budget for revenue sharing is something that will be a great injection into the city’s own budget.
The province announced earlier this month that municipal revenue sharing would be a record $297 million in 2023-24.
Premier Scott Moe said at the recent SARM convention that was a $36 million increase from last year.
“I think when you get almost a 13 and a half per cent increase in a transfer payment from PST that’s big news and a great injection into our budget,” Masters said.
Masters said as the city continues to struggle with social issues she was also pleased to see some investment into mental health and addictions.
“Investment in schools and investment in mental health and addictions and second stage housing, we’re struggling with some of those social issues that every other city is so to see some investment there is fantastic.”
As part of a $6.9 billion dollar health budget the province said that $518 million would be invested in mental health and addictions this fiscal year.
Masters said she also believes there was enough funding in the education budget that will allow the city to address some issues in the education system.
“I believe so and we should have an announcement shortly on one of those issues. We’re going to continue working with the school boards and with the province to make sure that our students can go to schools in close proximity to them,” Masters said.
The 2023-24 education budget was earmarked at $3.1 billion.
Earlier this month a decision was made to move 200 students out of Harbour Landing School in Regina because of ongoing overcrowding issues.
The students will be moved to Ethel Millken school about two kilometres away.
POPULATION
Before the budget was released the province announced that Saskatchewan saw it’s biggest population jump since 1914 in 2022.
According to the province, Statistics Canada estimates that 29,307 people moved to Saskatchewan last year, bringing the population to 1,214,618.
Masters said Regina is seeing its fair share of those new residents.
“Yes we are getting our fair share of new residents,” she said. “Keeping them and having amenities and quality of life are important.”
Masters said she feels on a housing standpoint the city has some work to do in conjunction with industry and developers to get more homes available for new residents coming to Regina.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
Lack of detention space could force CBSA to release detainees, internal memo warns
The Canada Border Services Agency is scrambling to find space to hold high-risk detainees that are set to be transferred from provincial jails in June.
BREAKING Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, 'Ramblin' Man,' has died. He was 80.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
What does it mean to be 'house poor' and how can you avoid it?
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Calgary man charged with manslaughter in death of toddler
Calgary police say Winston Campbell, 45, has been charged in the death of a two-year-old girl in 2022.