Access Without Fear a worthy idea

Regina city council will consider making Regina an Access Without Fear city on July 31. Will the mayor and city council approve? We need to have a definitive designation. The City of Regina website states, “The city has a population of more than 200,000 that is steadily growing, thanks in large part to international immigration.”

People face precarious immigration status for many reasons. For instance, they may be a temporary foreign worker whose job offer has been rescinded, or an international student who needs more time to finish their studies. It is this precarious status that makes people feel hesitant to call in emergencies or access services.

In 2007, the City of Regina committed to a vision of making the city “Canada’s most vibrant, inclusive, attractive, sustainable community, where people live in harmony and thrive in opportunity.” This is our opportunity to live up to that vision. We need to respect and value newcomers and build a sense of belonging.

The very real challenges newcomers in our community face won’t be resolved on their own. Newcomers deserve our active support in making Regina a city in which they can build their lives without fear. I’m hoping city council will agree to make Regina an Access Without Fear city on July 31, as more than 300 cities have already done.

Terri Sleeva, Regina Sleeva is an Access Without Fear committee member