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đłď¸ One of the biggest tests
A YQR councillor is out, Provincial auditor warns of 'significant errors', YXE passes HAF, and a new candidate in Saskatoon Fairview
July 3, 2024 | Advertise with us
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Good morning! We are back, SKoop readers! Hopefully, you enjoyed your long weekend. It was a busy few days in politics, so letâs get right to it!
Hereâs The SKoop for Wednesday, July 3:
A Regina Councillor not running again,
Provincial auditor warns of âsignificant errorsâ,
Saskatoon council passes Housing Accelerator Fund, and
Sask. Party nominates candidate in Saskatoon Fairview.
Todayâs Top Stories
Regina city councillor not seeking another term
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Regina Ward 1 Councillor Cheryl Stadnichuk
Another city councillor is not seeking another term in Regina. Ward 1 Councillor Cheryl Stadnichuk announced her name will not be on a ballot this fall.
Stadnichuk was first elected in 2020. In a statement, she said she would be stepping down for personal reasons, saying, âI know I cannot continue at the pace I have been going for another four-year term.â She continued, âThe last three-and-a-half years have been very rewarding, giving me the opportunity to meet amazing community members and leaders who work every day in our city to improve the lives of others.â
Stadnichuk joins councillor Andrew Stevens as the second incumbent to announce they will not run again. Regina is not the only municipality to see an exodus of councillors as Saskatoon will see at least five new councillors this fall.
Withholding federal carbon tax could cause âsignificant errorsâ in future financials: auditor
Provincial auditor Tara Clemett (CBC News)
The provincial auditor is warning that Saskatchewanâs decision to not collect and remit the federal carbon tax could cause âsignificant errorsâ in future financial statements.
Provincial auditor Tara Clemett stated that the government did not pay all charges required under the federal governmentâs Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act, saying, â[Saskatchewanâs] consolidated financial statements may become materially misstated in future periods from continued non-compliance with [the Greenhouse Gas Pollution Pricing Act.]
The provincial government did not respond to the report. A spokesperson for the Saskatchewan Party government said the provincial taxes are paid in full and âOur position remains that the carbon tax should be removed from everything for everyone.â
The opposition New Democrats also did not respond to questions regarding the auditorâs report. In a statement, the NDP responded, âWe've seen wild fluctuations in our financial position this year alone â swinging from a billion-dollar projected surplus to a half a billion-dollar deficit â to now a sudden modest surplus propped up by his large tax and cost-of-living hikes.â
The auditorâs report on the state of the provincial finances can be viewed in full here.
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Saskatoon city council passes Housing Accelerator Fund
Saskatoon City Council passed a suite of zoning and land use bylaw changes set as conditions for accepting $41 million from the federal governmentâs Housing Accelerator Fund.
Mayor Charlie Clark said that participation in HAF is one of the âbiggest testsâ heâs seen in 18 years on council. Insisting the city would not get a better deal if they voted no and warned against flushing millions down the drain. Clarkâs comments on waiting for a better deal come after Mayoral candidate Gordon Wyant called on council to wait to decide until after the fall election.
Wyant was not the only mayoral candidate who took a stand on the issue. Incumbent Ward 6 councillor and mayoral candidate Cynthia Block spoke on the matter before voting in favour, saying, âPeople deserve to have a home, they deserve to have a roof over their heads.â Mayor Clark and Councillor Block were joined by councillors Hilary Gough, Sarina Gersher, Mairin Loewen, and David Kirton voting in favour. Councillors Darren Hill, Randy Donauer, Bev Dubois, and Zach Jeffries opposed the deal. Councillor Troy Davies was absent.
The vote passed following a long, 12-hour public session hearing from dozens of residents and stakeholders. The changes required for the federal money include allowing fourplexes to be built on all residential lots. Buildings up to six storeys will be allowed within 250 metres of identified transit corridors, and buildings up to four storeys are to be allowed within 800 metres of the corridors, but only on properties located on higher-traffic arterial and collector streets.
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Sask. Party nominates candidate in Saskatoon Fairview
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The Saskatchewan Party has nominated its candidate for the riding of Saskatoon Fairview.
Zahid Sandhu was acclaimed as the Sask. Party candidate last week. Sanhu has a Masters of Laws and was a practising lawyer in Pakistan for twelve years. Sandhu moved to Saskatoon in 2011 and is a small business owner.
Fairview has been held by NDP MLA Vicki Mowat since 2017. The NDP has held this constituency since 1986 with one exceptionâthe Sask. Partyâs Jennifer Campeau held the riding from 2011-2017. Mowat won the riding with 53% of the vote in 2020.
Sandhu is the 51st candidate nominated by the party. The next nomination will be July 4 in Saskatoon Eastview.
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