The Mayor of Regina is upset that the provincial government will not be setting aside infrastructure funds for Wascana and Maple Leaf pools for 2019.
The two projects were on the city’s list for 2019, along with the Globe theatre, but the province says they are investing in decommissioning landfills and upgrades water treatment plants in smaller centres.
Mayor Michael Fougere said the hope is to have funding for the projects in 2020.
“We believe and know these are important elements of our recreational strategy for our city and our quality of life,” Fougere said. “They are a priority for citizens and our city council, so the fact they’re not on the list now is disappointing.”
Fougere said it’s disappointing that the provincial government isn’t investing in Regina’s renewal infrastructure.
“We are the capital city of the province, and we have a large population, and taking nothing from any other applications anywhere around the province, we’d like to see something approved for infrastructure renewal for our city.”
However, Fougere said there are many important projects going on in Saskatchewan.
“The province has a difficult responsibility to make those decisions, but they should be doing these on balance across the province, and because Regina gets a project, hopefully we wouldn’t take away from anyone else and I feel the same way about a project in other, smaller centres around the province,” Fougere said. “This isn’t about pitting one group, city town or village against the other, it’s about balance.”
The cost for the two pool projects is 20 million dollars, a third of which was to be covered by provincial funds, 40% federal money, and the rest by the city taxpayer.
Fougere adds these projects will continue to be completed regardless.
