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Saskatoon mayoral candidate Rob Norris is continuing his push to scrap the already agreed upon new central library.
Norris is asking the city’s library board not to open or review any of the prime design applications, the latest step in the process to begin construction by May 2023.
“Leave these tendered documents sealed until the outcome of the election is clear and the will of council and mayor is known,” Norris said minutes after the request for proposals deadline had passed.
“This is important for the citizens of Saskatoon.”
In November, council approved up to $67.5 million in borrowing for the new $134-million downtown library, which is expected to open in 2026.
The Saskatoon Public Library board has direct authority over the project. Council voted to borrow the money on behalf of the board.
As questions continue surrounding the legal ability to rescind any decisions made on the new library, Norris insists he has sought legal advice and believes it’s possible.
Norris would not elaborate on who gave him that advice or what the advice was exactly, but in any case, he wants the board to leave things alone until the election is over.
“While the (city) clerk has not offered an opinion…there’s also room for council to explore and ultimately reverse this $67.5 million debt finance project,” he said.
Affordability is a major concern for Norris.
He said he understands that the Frances Morrison Library is ageing, but couldn’t commit to a target funding goal he had in mind to replace it.
In fact, he wouldn’t commit to building a new library over the next four years.
“No, I wouldn’t make that commitment,” he said.
As far as any potential relationship fallout or difficulty planning future projects after spending money on a library just to scrap it, Norris wasn’t concerned.
“Working families are weighing in and having a second thought on — not the value of a library — but what sustainable funding they can afford as part of their property taxes,” he said.
