Murray Wood: Elbows down, taxpayer subsidies for U.S. flights up
Murray Wood wonders why it's OK for Saskatchewan to prop up air travel to the U.S. with taxpayer dollars, but it was wro...
Regina city council will make a final decision on the proposed sale of parts of REAL District to Brandt Properties at its meeting May 6.
Regina executive council voted to move forward a deal proposing the partial sale of buildings belonging to the REAL District to Brandt Properties Ltd. on Wednesday.
The deal was approved to be debated by city council at it’s first meeting in May in a vote 7-4 – with councillors Victoria Flores, David Froh, Shanon Zachidniak and Shobna Radons voting against the motion.
Read more:
- Renderings reveal vision for Regina’s Brandt Centre, other REAL facilities
- What’s in the Brandt-REAL deal? Breaking down the agreement
- Brandt’s REAL deal set to be scrutinized at Regina City Hall
Ward 8 councillor Shanon Zachidniak attempted to make an amendment that would have an independent third party look at the deal and report back no later than June 10. She said her intent was not to delay the deal from happening but to have questions answered.
However, the amendment was defeated by a 7-4 vote.
The City of Regina, REAL District, and Brandt – owned by Shaun Semple – reached the agreement after beginning negotiations in November of 2025.
The deal had to be approved by Regina’s executive council before it can be debated by city council on May 6.
According to the deal, Brandt would pay the city $6.4 million to obtain the Brandt Centre, Queensbury Centre, Canada Centre building, Ag-Ex building, Stockman’s Building, Commercial Cattle Barn, the land McDonald’s sits on and the parking lot on the south end of the grounds.
The area within the yellow line contains the property that would be sold to Brandt if the deal proceeds. (City of Regina/Geoff Smith/980 CJME)
The city would continue to own Mosaic Stadium, the Cooperators Centre, AffinityPlex and Bunge International Trade Centre.
‘We need to move this on’: Semple hoping for minimal delays on deal
Semple told executive council on Wednesday that he wants to turn Regina’s REAL campus into a destination venue.
“It’s a difficult business and it’s not one that I would suggest the city should be in,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy for us either.”
Semple outlined his connections to the entertainment world and explained he wants to finish work on the YQR Distillery restaurant and stage.
He also said its one of his goals to create a Regina Stampede, similar to Calgary’s.
Semple encouraged council to approve this deal quickly so preparations can begin for Agribition and the 2027 Grey Cup Festival at the campus.
“If every deal is like a banana, it’s green when you start, it’s ready to eat, and then it’s rotten – and this banana is ready to eat,” he said. “We need to move this on.”
President of Agribition, Michael Latimer, told council it is in support of working with Brandt on the deal, even though it still had unanswered questions.
Semple said Brandt will work with Agribition to make sure it still has the same amount of space its had at the event in years prior and keep the event on the third week of November.
He argued the city “won the lottery” with this deal coming forward.
Daren Anderson, the city’s outgoing chief financial officer, said last Friday that the deal would save taxpayers $79 million dollars over the next five years.
If the deal is approved, Brandt will overtake different cultural, sporting and agri-business events like Agribition.
Brandt will take over operation of the Queen City Ex, as long as it is commercially viable and there is demand for the event, according to Anderson.
Brandt said the total investment would exceed $113 million including $73.5 million to account for deferred maintenance in REAL District buildings.
The company included renderings of its plans to transform the property into a world-class venue for concerts and entertainment.
Rendering of main stage at Queen City Distillery. (Brandt/City of Regina)
About 700 unionized employees with REAL would become Brandt Centre employees if the deal is approved. Their existing collective agreements would continue.
Fifty out-of-scope employees are also impacted. Some would be offered employment while others would receive severance.
REAL District board says deferred maintenance is front of mind
Jamie Boldt, the board chair of REAL District, said on Wednesday that the group has become more stable as governance practices have been strengthened.
She said the deferred maintenance and capital maintenance is at the front of the board’s minds.
When asked if REAL could operate without a city subsidy in the future, Boldt said the $73.5 million in deferred maintenance plays a large factor in the answer.
“Could we operate? Likely, yep,” she said. “Over time we’d figure out a way to do that.
“We’ve already decreased our operating budget and made big strides that way, but that deferred maintenance, again, it’s a big number.”
Boldt said there are 700 employees who are facing a lot of uncertainty now that the deal is in the spotlight and a quick decision from council will be helpful
WHL commissioner hopeful for proposed Brandt Centre upgrades in deal
Dan Near, the commissioner of the Western Hockey League (WHL), put his support behind the agreement in front of executive council on Wednesday.
“The business around events in hockey has changed dramatically, with customers expecting more from their local facility and athletes expecting higher standards from the spaces where they train and develop,” he said.
The Brandt Centre is currently home to the WHL team, the Regina Pats.
The centre was built in 1977, and Near said it requires a significant investment to repair and upgrade parts of the building.
Many of the WHL rinks where teams play are municipally owned between the city, operator and club.
However, Near said many of the capital commitments made aren’t enough to keep the lights on and the ice plant running. The commissioner said the city would be incredibly fortunate for Semple to take on the upgrades.
“I’m certain Brandt will continue to put the community first and do what is best for Regina, because I see that every day and how they operate in the Western Hockey League,” he said.
Delegates warns executive council “time kills deals”
Former Regina Mayor Pat Fiacco wished a deal like this came along while he led the city.
“My god, I can’t imagine the relief the board of directors of REAL are going to have when this deal is done,” he said. “That burden on them has been incredible.”
Fiacco said REAL has served the city well, but its current structure limits its ability to take on risk where the private structure can.
“Maintaining the status quo continues to place that burden on taxpayers,” he said. “This proposal shifts financial and operational risk away from the taxpayer and onto the private sector.”
Mike Tate, CEO of the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce, said Brandt’s private sector investment expands the tax base without requiring ongoing public subsidy.
He urged council to act in a timely manner.
“Time kills deals,” Tate said. “We’re very fortunate to have this on the table.”
Citizen questions clause in deal that Brandt wouldn’t pay property tax
Pat Book, a former Regina journalist and member of former Regina Mayor Michael Fougere’s communication team, raised questions at the meeting about the finer details of the agreement.
“As one of the only delegations not offering an unequivocal endorsement today, I feel a bit like a hen in a fox house right now,” he said.
Book questioned why part of the deal includes clauses that Brandt wouldn’t have to pay property taxes on any of the buildings purchased for the next five years.
“I don’t necessarily think these are reasons to scupper this deal – I just don’t understand them,” he said. “A company with the resources to claim the biggest public investment in the city’s history, apparently, only make that work if they don’t have to pay property taxes like everyone else.”
Instead of the city giving Brandt a tax break up front, Book suggested an incentive model could be imposed where Brandt’s property taxes are reduced as it brings in new events and improves buildings.
Editor’s note: This article previously incorrectly stated the Brandt Centre is home to the Regina Pat Canadians. It has been corrected to accurately state the centre is home to the Regina Pats.
