Councillors seek ‘timely’ input on Wascana Park project

Two councillors to present motion as controversial project sits in limbo

Two city councillors hope a notice of motion coming before council Wednesday will be a clear signal to the province that transparency and public consultation on the Brandt-cnib project are paramount for Regina residents.

The motion, signed by Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins and Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens, calls for the detailed consultation plan promised by the Provincial Capital Commission (PCC) earlier this month to be developed and then executed for the Brandt-cnib project “in a timely fashion.”

“If history’s any record and lesson for us then, yes, there is a concern,” said Stevens, who fears major decisions about the project may be made before proper public consultation has been completed.

The controversial project was suspended in March 2019 as the provincial auditor announced a review of whether proper processes were followed during approvals of major developments in the park, including the Brandt-cnib project.

Her report, released Dec. 5, found the project had fallen short and that a 2016 approval was made without the board having clearly documented how the project conforms to park rules.

In early February, the PCC announced that the project could go ahead as long as CNIB does more public consultation and shows how the full building can conform to the purposes of the park and the five pillars of the 2016 Wascana Centre Master Plan.

“The citizens of Regina love the park. We represent the citizens of Regina and I think it’s important that we say to the provincial government that before they do major office buildings in the park, they should let the residents ... at least have some input,” Hawkins said.

The City of Regina does extensive consultations before any of its major projects, Hawkins added, and he believes each project is improved because of it. He hopes that fact is taken to heart.

He said the motion asks that public consultation take place in “very good time” so that the input can be “properly considered.”

Stevens said there’s reason to be suspicious of the public consultation process, especially considering the auditor’s report and findings.

“Everything suggests that this was kind of rushed through,” he said.

In an early February interview, CNIB confirmed that it had no plans for significant changes to tenancy plans or building design — a major sticking point for those opposed to the project.

At the same time, the PCC and government officials were unable to provide full clarity on whether commercial tenants would be permitted under its understanding of park rules.

The project will face a review of the detailed design by the architectural advisory committee to make sure it conforms to the current master plan, but the PCC says the “detailed public consultation plan” won’t be developed until the next iteration of the master plan in 2021.

CNIB Foundation Saskatchewan executive director Christall Beaudry, said the organization was directed to conduct additional “public engagement,” not consultation, and is waiting for the PCC to get back to CNIB with best practices about what is expected.

In the meantime, CNIB remains in limbo.

“What they’ve told us so far is that it does include an online presence and through social media,” Beaudry said in an interview Tuesday.

“So we did start a website called cnibinthepark.ca and we’re regularly updating it. We’ve got some information on there around the project and around waiting for the regulator. We don’t know what else that will entail at this point.”

CNIB already went through a public consultation process in 2016, according to Beaudry.

Residents, she said, shared their thoughts on the project at an event on Aug. 24, 2016, which had been advertised in the Leader-post on July 27 and Aug. 10.

That feedback was given to the Wascana Centre Authority, which was later replaced by the PCC.

Hawkins argued that event was more of an announcement, did not reveal that Brandt would own the building and did not qualify as proper public consultation.

Neither Hawkins nor Stevens attached a timeline to the motion. Stevens said he has to wait and see what plans the PCC has first. The motion will be read during Wednesday’s city council meeting, but not discussed until the next city council meeting at the end of March.

Also coming up at city council are proposed changes to the taxi bylaw, which are being recommended as an attempt to level the playing field between ride-share companies and taxi companies; an extra $880,000 to bring the Maple Leaf Pool vision to life; and a proposed parking lot for a new joint-use school on the Argyle School and L’arche Park site which would be developed in Kinsmen Park. With files from Arthur White-crummey