Regina residents have spoken, voting in favour of a public-private partnership funding model in Wednesday’s wastewater treatment plant referendum.
Just over 57 per cent of the more than 49,000 people who took part in the referendum voted “no” in favour of the P3 approach.
Speaking to reporters at city hall, Mayor Michael Fougere said the vote result was a “decisive” victory.
“I’m very proud of the results,” Fougere said. “The implications were clear and people understood that, and they voted very clearly and decisively.”
Fougere said he respects the opinion of the roughly 21,000 people who voted in favour of a traditional public funding model for the $224.3 million project.
Wednesday’s vote was the first referendum held in Regina in more than 20 years.
“I think the story for tonight is a group of citizens came together to fight city hall, and that’s something that’s supposed to be impossible,” said Jim Holmes, spokesperson for Regina Water Watch, the group that pushed for the referendum.
Holmes said the group plans to get together to discuss what their next steps will be.
