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To the sounds of applause from a modest crowd at Rotary Park and construction on the Sid Buckwold bridge, former Mayor Don Atchison once again announced he wanted back inside city hall.
Calling current Mayor Charlie Clark and council’s record over the last four years “bleak and dismal” he outlined what he accomplished during his time.
“When I was mayor, bridges were built; Circle Drive Bridge, now Gordie Howe Bridge, River Landing, Police headquarters and the food bank.”
He also pointedly explained what he would and wouldn’t support if he were elected again.
“I will not vote for the property tax increase in 2021. I will not vote for an increase in sewer and water rates. I will not vote for bike lanes in 3rd Ave. I will not vote for defunding the police or reallocating funds for other services from the police.”
He also said he wouldn’t support the Bus Rapid Transit system, another landfill site, or the $19 billion environmental program.
So what would he support?
“I will vote to increase the safety and security for children and families through the police and fire, bring back the Home First Program. I’ll vote to increase the number of attainable rental and housing units to be restored to 500 from the 250 which the current council put in place.”
Atchison also laid out a wish for Saskatoon to become the most business-friendly city in Canada, and the mining capital of the world.
He also mentioned that the downtown Lighthouse needed a new solution. When asked what that meant, he described how River Landing was part of a downtown rejuvenation- and that “the next step, is the Lighthouse.”
“It’s very difficult and it’s a very hard situation to deal with. I guess if it was easy, someone would have dealt with it already.”
He elaborated that it was important to look at the people using the facility, the programming available, and what other options there might be.
“A new location… well, that would be something that will be in the discussions between the province of Saskatchewan and to the future…. the province of Saskatchewan certainly has to take some ownership for the responsibilities there. And the City of Saskatoon does too.”
Calling the intent of the Lighthouse admirable, but the outcome “not,” he simply said the situation there ‘needed to be solved.’
Downtown Public Library
The $154 million downtown public library, which is slated to be open by 2026, is something Atchison said was in the hands of the library board, even though tens of millions in debt financing was approved by council.
“They are separate and apart. They are their own governing body. The City of Saskatoon, in fact, approves their mill rate for them. But outside of that, it’s up to them to determine what they’re going to do.”
Mayoral candidate Rob Norris speaks to reporters Aug. 28, 2020.
(Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)
It was something candidate Rob Norris felt he needed to address shortly after Atchison’s mayoral announcement. Citing new libraries constructed in other Canadian cities like Halifax, Guelph and Kitchener, Ont. at half or one- third of the cost, Norris said he couldn’t support it.
“Why aren’t there other sources of revenue identified? Why did they opt for this stand-alone option; a gold plated one? And how can we protect taxpayers from rising costs.”
Norris said if elected, he would shelve the initiative and ‘go back to the drawing board’ to see what other options were available.
“We’ve sought advice. The first thing is actually to bring it to council and reverse course. That is, on the public financing component.”
Land for a new library has already been purchased, while some plans are expected to either be in place- including the hiring of an architect – by the time the civic election takes place.
