Letters: Regina City Council dragging feet on rail yard development

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Regina’s failure to meaningfully engage with Muscowpetung First Nation’s proposal for the Yards is the latest example of this city council’s ineffectiveness and gridlock.

The Yards has been sitting empty for 10 years, despite proposals such as the Muscowpetung development that appears to meet all the goals and priorities for catalyst projects.

Council has been considering a year-round, mixed-use facility, with housing for new businesses and cultural organizations, and allocations for green space. It’s clear such a development would carry tremendous potential for revitalizing the surrounding area.

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An Indigenous business hub would generate revenues on the sale of the land, with the lion’s share of development and maintenance costs shouldered by the First Nation.

In addition to the financial benefits, supporting urban reserves is a tangible response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission call for municipalities to support Indigenous economic participation to contribute to financial independence and self-determination.

It’s no secret that Regina’s engagement with First Nations lags behind other Canadian municipalities. Compared with Saskatoon’s 10 urban reserves, Regina is home to just four. Instead of giving the proposal a serious look, the mayor and council seem more interested in other distractions.

Coun. Bob Hawkins is intent on building a semi-professional ball diamond on the site — a zombie proposal that will not die, even though the business case for spending public dollars on sports stadiums rarely produces economic or community benefits.

Mayor Sandra Masters says the proposal will be considered in due course, but the First Nation feels it’s been ignored. Let’s not forget council’s endless and increasingly costly delays on the badly needed indoor aquatics facility and central library projects.

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It’s time the city gets serious about moving forward with projects that build bridges and benefit for all Regina residents.

André Magnan, Regina

(Magnan is a University of Regina Professor of Sociology and Social Studies running as a candidate for city council in Ward 2)

Name Dewdney Avenue after different Dewdney

Here is a thought: Regina city council should rescind Edgar Dewdney as the person after which Dewdney Avenue is named and replace Edgar Dewdney with Selwyn Dewdney. Selwyn Dewdney was a noted Canadian artist and recorder of native rock art.

His two great loves, art and the Canadian north, merged together. His respect for native culture and art was reflected in his work, as was his insight into native rock art, and his passion for canoeing and the northern experience.

Dewdney recorded many images of forgotten dreams painted on rocks and cliffs throughout the Canadian Shield. Thanks to his memoirs, we are all there to witness these things with Dewdney. Changing the name of who Dewdney Avenue is named after would help demonstrate reconciliation.

Mark Geiger, Regina

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