Rent reduced for riders, early budget items approved by Regina Council
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Regina's city council covered a lot of ground in a three-hour meeting on Wednesday. With all members in attendance, coun...
Three days of budget deliberation at Saskatoon city council started with some star support for a new downtown library proposal.
Life of Pi author and Saskatoon resident Yann Martel voiced his approval of including a new $152-million downtown library in the city’s first-ever two-year budget.
“I’m here to offer my unconditional support for building a new downtown public library,” Martel said. “My children get new books out of the library every single week. Libraries are often the place that new Canadians congregate to.”
“Libraries are an essential place for learning, thinking and having fun — all for free.”
Martel moved to Saskatoon in 2003, two years after publishing Life of Pi, a renowned novel that has sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.
Replacing the 53-year-old Frances Morrison Central Library was one of the most discussed issues during the first session of Monday’s budget discussions. Under the current proposal, building a new library would also involve borrowing $87.5 million.
“Good libraries are essential to functioning democracies,” Martel, a former member of the Saskatoon Public Library board, said during his short speech to council.
“I urge you to be bold.”
Martel used the new Remai Modern art gallery as an example of a project that was needed in Saskatoon.
“Now, were there bumps along the way to building it? Of course there were. The bumps aren’t a reason not to dream,” Martel said.
Martel urged further support for a new library, mentioning all livable cities having theatres, cinemas, art galleries and swimming pools as attractions that bring people to city centres.
Since 2014, Halifax, Calgary and Edmonton have all opened or are currently building new libraries.
“We’ve been waiting for this for far too long. Frances Morrison is utterly decrepit. It no longer serves the role it’s supposed to play.”
Martel finished his speech with two haikus before allowing council to continue deliberations.
“A book is a seed, a library a garden. Please water the garden,” he said, reading one of the haikus.