“We seem to be sleeping on many issues,” said Regina’s newest mayoral candidate, at a campaign launch on Tuesday eveninng.
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Bill Pratt has publicly delcared himself as a candidate for mayor of Regina in the 2024 municipal election, the fifth hopeful to throw their name into the mix for the city’s top seat this coming November.
To a room full of supporters, more than half wearing chartreuse campaign buttons on their lapels, Pratt promised Tuesday at his campaign launch to be a “refresh button” at city hall.
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“I care very deeply about Regina, and I’ve been watching for the last three years and becoming quite uncomfortable with the direction we’re headed,” he told reporters, following an exit from the stage to great applause.
“We seem to be sleeping on many issues,” he added. “We’re developing a chasm between city council, the mayor and the citizens of our city, and in order to clear that, clear those behaviours, we have to hit the refresh button.”
Having worked in the charitable sector for various organizations on local, national and international levels for the last two decades, Pratt said his experience grants him the leadership skills to help chart a new course for the civic ship.
His most recent role was as CEO of Eden Care Communities, which operates assisted living, low-income and care home facilities and programs in Regina, Moose Jaw and Saskatoon.
Pratt has also served on the boards of the Public Advisory Council of the Health Data Research Network of Canada, the Regina Airport Authority, YMCA of Regina and the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada.
He also has prior experience as executive director of a charity operating shelters and halfway houses in Halifax, N.S., alongside serving on the boards of CancerCare Nova Scotia and Feed Nova Scotia.
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Pratt said his approach would seek to lead a city council that exemplifies “integrity, cohesion and respect,” makes choices that “align strategy with policy and budgets,” and incites trust from the public.
“Our council chambers is an intimidating place where the mayor has created an environment that portrays them as better than us,” said Pratt.
“We should be a reflection of our residents, not an elitist group that only represents the few with the loudest voices, the best friendships with the mayor and the biggest wallets.”
Pratt presented a pro-business take on the path needed to see Regina thrive, and a soft-spot for addressing burgeoning issues like flattening tourism and the homelessness crisis.
His values as a candidate include ensuring Regina’s spending matches it’s tax base size, furthering development of an inviting downtown, and leading a city that is cognizant of “the social well-being of its citizens.”
“When the business community is thriving, it gives us more flexibility to resolve the complex and heartbreaking social issues that we face as a city,” he said.
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He also said he’s in favour doing more than “checklist consultations” when it comes to engagement with the public on big issues, and to ensure strong transparency in elected officials, himself included.
Pratt pledged to hold monthly office hours at a recreation centre in rotating neighbourhoods, host ward town halls every four months and to make his calendar of meetings public at the end of each month, if elected.
“You’ll be able to see who was met with and what we talked about. You need to know your mayor is not catering to special interest groups,” he said. “Councillors will be encouraged to do the same.”
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His number one priority on the campaign trail over the next nine weeks will be to speak to as many people, organizations, clubs and associations as he possibly can, to hear their priorities, he said.
“Our city deserves to be known for its goodness, not amateur antics at city council, not slogans that insult and embarrass our citizens, not the mayor failing to take responsibility for their mistakes,” he said.
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“It’s time to revive the art of living well together. That doesn’t mean we all have to think the same; it means that we have to respect each other.”
Pratt will be challenging incumbent Sandra Masters, who is seeking re-election for a second term. First-timers to civic politics Brandon Abtosway, Shawn Sparvier and Kevin Kardash have also said they will seek to put themselves on the ballot.
The formal nomination period for candidates running for mayor, city council or school board trustee begins on Sept. 25. Municipal election day in Regina is Nov. 13, with local polls open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Voters can register online with Elections Regina until Oct. 22, or register in-person at the polls with a filled-out registration form after that date, on election day.
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