Responses to the LiveableYXE Survey Click on any question to see the responses from the candidates.
Tony Bassett
Beyond the current plans (including the accelerated housing initiative), it will be critical that the City of Saskatoon seek other pathways that will result in greater density and affordable housing options. As City Councillor, I will advocate for the use of mechanisms that have proven successful in other urban centres, including:
– A limitation of parking supply for urban/retail projects ensures that land is utilized for maximum efficiency. This strategy has the bonus of encouraging the public to use alternative forms of transportation.
– Implementing rent control measures to better protect renters from predatory rate increases.
– Inclusionary zoning: Such a strategy would benefit developers by providing incentives and ensuring that a minimum percentage of affordable housing is available for new construction.
– Ensuring the public plays a role in the density planning process to create greater understanding and buy-in.
As City Councillor, ensuring there are safe and accessible pathways for pedestrians and cyclists is a priority. I will advocate for adding more biking zones (30 km/hr streets), the construction of more walking/cycling paths, and implementing strategies that offer greater active transport protections in high vehicular traffic areas. For example, I will advocate for the construction of cycling bridges to provide faster and safer paths, especially for those commuting toward the downtown core. In addition, it will be important for the city to offer cycling stations so that users can be assured their bikes are better protected from theft.
Finally, I will fully support any measures that support public transportation. I will advocate for funding to ensure city transportation becomes even more accessible and reliable for residents. I will be a reliable voice supporting the final establishment of a rapid bus system.
Tony Bassett
In the coming years, it will be imperative that the City of Saskatoon continues to enact strategies that produce meaningful greenhouse gas emissions reductions while ensuring that future development is conscientious of existing green spaces and fragile ecosystems. First, the City must greatly raise the profile about the threat of disease threatening the future of natural green features, including the Elm population. This includes expanding the currently limited Dutch Elm Disease testing capacities in Saskatchewan.
There are proven models for success implemented by other cities. As city councilor I will advocate for the adaptation of these proven models.
A major near-term focus will be climate adaptation strategies. This includes the Copenhagen model of integrating green building standards into future affordable housing projects (meaning lower energy costs to lower-income residents) and the requirement of green roofs in new developments. Other cities like Portland have used strategies Saskatoon should embrace, such as bioswales in housing developments offering better flooding protection. I will also advocate for an urban forest strategy, which would focus on increasing the city's tree canopy, the incorporation of green roofs/walls, and the expansion of communal green spaces to combat heat island effects (Melbourne, Australia, has a great model of success in this area).
It will also be critical that the city enact measures that confirm energy-efficient construction standards. This means enforcing energy-efficient guidelines for new housing developments, which may include integrating solar solutions, providing financial incentives for heat pumps, and using water-conservation technologies.
Finally, it will be imperative that the city move away from an ingrained "vehicle first" culture for transportation. This means providing more and safer pedestrian/cycling options and expanding/funding public transportation.
Tony Bassett
While the Low Emissions Community Plan was ambitious and worthy of support, at least on paper, several factors impacted its overall implementation.
First and foremost, while ambitious in spirit, the city ultimately lacked implementation. The issue was the city's failure to commit the necessary financial resources to achieve many of the stated 40 objectives within the Plan.
Moving forward, it will be incredibly important for the city to take a focused approach to accelerating its commitment toward its ultimate target of an 80 percent reduction by the middle of the century. This focused approach means prioritizing the implementation of strategies to reduce the most significant emission sources, in particular, the use (or overuse) of individual vehicles, the delivery of the city's water supply, and the management of its wastewater (as impact examples).
Additionally, it will be important for the city to adopt proven models for success that have been developed by other cities (see answer to previous question). This means aggressively implementing measures to ensure all future developments conform to energy-efficient standards, building affordable green housing, providing incentives to residents to green retrofit their households, and making the city more attractive for alternative modes of transportation, encouraging greater walking, cycling, and public transportation use.
Fundamentally, the city must make the financial commitments necessary to ensure most, if not all, of the 40 objectives are met. The original Plan projected nearly $34B in savings from $19B in investment. We must follow through on that plan, and I will be on the committee advocating for the necessary funding.
Tony Bassett
My position on this is and will be very clear. I will not support the development of a freeway that would impact or affect the invaluable and fragile grassland ecosystems in these areas. It is currently estimated that at least 75%, and perhaps up to 80% of regional grasslands have been lost from agriculture and development. We cannot afford any further losses as these ecosystems play an invaluable role in preserving biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
My future support of any freeway project will only be possible if specified and written requirements indicate that any construction has zero impacts on the surrounding swales.
Tony Bassett
As a long-time resident of the city and Ward 6, my work in the community has largely focused on supporting a greater culture of inclusivity. As a Board Member for People's Bridge Advocacy, a non-profit organization that works on providing support to intercultural groups in Saskatoon, I am proud to support and celebrate the mosaic of cultures in our city. As the city's population grows – a significant percentage being that of new arrivals- it will be critical that the city provides ongoing support in services and events designed to encourage greater cultural understanding and acceptance. This means supporting and promoting the work of grassroots organizations that are making direct contributions to promoting diversity.
It will be critical that city leaders reinforce a message of reconciliation with our indigenous community. Much progress has been made recently, but we still have many miles to travel. I will advocate for continued acknowledgement of the history and experience of our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and how the future of our city depends on ensuring the social and cultural obstacles are removed so that they are offered an equal opportunity for a prosperous life.
Finally, I will advocate the city continues to provide residents with the necessary meeting and leisure spaces for its growing population. The construction of a new main library will play a key role, as well as either constructing or refurbishing existing buildings into community halls/meeting spaces and ensuring that there is an ample supply of leisure locations – public parks with soccer/baseball fields, swimming pools, ice/skating arenas, etc. These meeting and activity spaces enhance residents' quality of life and offer meeting places where community members can connect.
Moving forward, it will be important that city leadership advocates for inclusion to ensure that all residents feel welcome and accepted and view Saskatoon as a good place to live, work and raise a family.
Tony Bassett
In principle, I support the development of the Event District as a place where people can gather, showcase the arts and provide residents with a location for entertainment. At this time, the city and developers have indicated that the cost of the construction and refurbishment activities will largely be converted by contributions by the provincial and federal governments, as well as private interests. If this is the final model for development, I will be in support.
However, if, ultimately, the expectation is that residents shoulder the burden of the cost of this project, I will have significant reservations. In part because residents are increasingly wary of additional property tax increases and in part because there are other significant challenges facing the city, including the rising number of unhoused residents, the need to ensure the city's infrastructure is maintained, and ensuring the city continues to progress in other key initiatives, including the implementation of the Low Emissions Community Plan (among others).
In short, if the proposed Event District impacts or compromises the residential tax rates, social issues, infrastructure or key long-term projects, I will be greatly reluctant to support the project at its current projected expenditure of $1.2B.
Tony Bassett
The issue of the unhoused in Saskatoon is reaching a crisis level. While the challenge of homelessness is by no means unique to Saskatoon, it is of greater urgency not only because of the rapidly escalating number of unhoused people, but also the direct threat posed to their safety given the extreme cold of our winter climate.
A major influencing factor in the rise of the unhoused population has undoubtedly been policy decisions taken by other levels of government, in particular the Government of Saskatchewan, which has implemented significant cuts to its social services, in particular areas like mental health supports and addictions, both of which are causal factors in homelessness.
Addressing homelessness will be a top priority for me as a city councillor. If elected, I will use my platform to publically call on all levels of government, including the provincial and federal levels, to come to the table and collaborate with the city in good faith in providing the needed support to meaningfully reduce the unhoused population. It will also be critical for city grassroots organizations who are working directly with the unhoused, to play a major role in developing effective strategies that will get people off the street.
Finally, it will also be critical that the city as a whole plays a role in alleviating the challenge. This means we are all willing to ensure that shelters and safe spaces are built or developed in locations beyond the downtown core. It is unconscionable that while we live in a land of plenty, people are dying because they cannot find a place to live. We must do better by coming together.