Regina's mayoral race comes into focus during city council's library funding debate

A debate at city council on Tuesday brought Regina's mayoral race into focus. 

A group of councillors attempted to have council reconsider its decision to approve in principle between $92 million and $119 million in debt financing for the planned renewal of the central library. 

The effort failed with only the motion's movers — Ward 1 Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk, Ward 4 Coun. Lori Bresciani, Ward 7 Coun. Terina Nelson and Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak — voting in favour of revisiting the topic.

Tuesday's 3½ hour debate pointed to what will likely be one of the central topics in the municipal election set for Nov. 13: Should Regina build a series of large infrastructure projects including the library and a new aquatics centre, and how will it afford to do so. 

On one side is incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters, who has advocated for a plan to address billions in dollars of infrastructure that needs to be repaired or replaced. She's supported a plan from administration to finance at least part of those projects through debt. 

On the other side is Bresciani, who for nearly four years has often found herself in line with the Masters. In recent months she has attempted to to establish herself as a fiscally responsible politician with different priorities than the incumbent mayor. 

"This just isn't about a single project, it's about prioritizing our resources wisely. We must recognize that if we undertake multiple projects simultaneously, I think I'm going to tell you it's not feasible," Bresciani told council, reading from a written statement. 

Marj Gavigan, chair of the Regina Public Library (RPL) board, admitted that the RPL had already begun the process to talk with developers on potential options, but that was put on hold once the motion to reconsider was filed with council. 

Gavigan expressed frustration at an attempt to revisit a topic decided in June. 

"I can tell you that I've talked to taxpayers who are pretty frustrated that 11 people sitting around this table making more than $50,000 a year can't make a decision," Gavigan told council Tuesday. 

When asked whether the motion to revisit the library funding was part of a political calculation, Masters had replied: "I'll leave that up to you to decide." 

The future of a renewed central library

The need for a new central library has been discussed in Regina for at least 15 years, and the desire to finally get working on the issue appears to have won over the majority of councillors. 

"The real question is why we didn't get on with it five years ago or 10 years ago when it would have what cost much less. Costs are rising here, but the need is compelling, it's imperative, it's urgent," said Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins. 

Council has been told the current central library is beyond its end of life and that there are limited options available to keep it functioning.

Gavigan highlighted how every dollar used to maintain operations is a dollar that could be put toward the construction or the lease of a new building. 

Council's approval in June was not to take on the debt but to designate a portion of the city's debt limit toward the project. 

No money has been taken on to finance the central library renewal project, and with planning expected to take until 2026, it's unlikely any of the debt limit will be used until then at the earliest, councillors were told. 

Any move to take on the actual debt in the future will need approval from council, city staff confirmed. The RPL will continue to solicit developers with a plan to get shovels in the ground by 2026.

REAL provided $4M in funding

Council also voted to provide one of its troubled municipal corporations with an additional $4 million in funding. 

Regina Exhibition Association Limited, or REAL, is responsible for bringing concerts and drawing tourism to the city. It also operates the Brandt Centre, the Co-operators Centre and Affinity Sportsplex. 

The money will be used to pay down REAL's $6.7-million line of credit, which was set to hit its limit this month. 

Interim REAL CEO Roberta Engel warned council about the risk of not providing the money. 

"Not funding REAL will have an immediate impact on the remaining Rider home games, the [Regina] Pats season, the hosting of the Canadian Western Agribition, 22 hockey tournaments, four Brandt Centre events, several trade shows and the delivery of two upcoming signature events, Frost and Canada's Farm Show," said Engel. 

Council voted 9-2 to provide the funding with many expressing frustration they were left with no other option. 

Mayor Masters and Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens were the only votes against. 

Masters said she didn't understand where the request for $4 million came from but rejected the shocked response some councillors had to the state of REAL's financial problems.

"I've sat at council now for pretty much four years and listened to the presentations during COVID, post COVID and the last year since there has been a changeover and the information is always pretty consistent in terms of, here's our debt, here's our capacity to service that [debt]," said Masters. 

The $4 million in funding is on top of approximately $8 million from the city to pay back the Canada Revenue Agency for a pandemic wage subsidy REAL inappropriately accessed as well as a $5.7-million budget for the organization this year.