SASKATOON — Mayoralty candidate Don Atchison has accused the recent actions made by City Hall, and Mayor Charlie Clark is working in favour of outgoing Councillor Cynthia Block in the Civic Election next week, casting doubts on the impartiality of the current leadership.
Atchison served as Saskatoon mayor from 2003 to 2016, and he raised concerns that the Transit Villages part of the city’s growth plan and the Housing Accelerator Fund are some that would work in Block’s favour as she is expected to follow Clark’s policies if she wins.
“Citizens of Saskatoon deserve a fair, unbiased election where each candidate can represent their own vision without interference from City Hall. If Mayor Clark wants to engage in debate over these issues, he should join the debates directly rather than publicly aiding his preferred successor. Our city needs leaders who can stand on their own and candidates who can answer for themselves,” said Atchison.
He is trying to return to City Hall against Block, Mike Harder, Cary Tarasoff, and former MLA Gordon Wyant in the elections on Wednesday, Nov. 13.
Atchison said faceless and unaccountable city officials released a statement denying the importance of "Transit Villages" in Saskatoon's official growth plan—despite these developments being an essential component and a threat to malls and commercial zones in three neighbourhoods.
With the public release issued by anonymous officials, Atchison said the statement effectively shut down media investigation and protected Block, negating the need for her to defend herself on this contentious issue. Transit Villages are part of a plan that Block supports, which aims to eventually use the city’s regulatory power to replace malls with high-density housing. This topic deserves public scrutiny and open discussion.
The interference escalated further when Clark publicly endorsed the federal Housing Accelerator Fund through his social media account. The HAF encourages high-density housing developments, including four-plex rentals within single-family neighbourhoods, which many residents fear could change the character of Saskatoon’s established communities and stress existing infrastructure.
Atchison said Clark’s Facebook post publicly supporting HAF is a strong stance on a key election issue and has implicitly endorsed Block’s campaign. He continued that Clark, in another post, denigrated a focus on essential services, a prominent policy plank of his campaign. He said Clark essentially encouraged residents to vote for a candidate focused on big public projects, a central policy of Block, who is the only mayoralty candidate focused on that position.
Atchison points to federal polls suggesting Canada may elect a Conservative government in the coming months. Conservative leadership has promised to end the HAF if elected, citing its flaws.
He also strongly condemns Clark, who decided not to seek another term, weighing in on the issue as there was no reason for the incumbent mayor to comment, adding that his actions only bolstered Block’s campaign.
In a press statement, the Atchison campaign called on City Hall officials for a fair electoral process. Clark must refrain from further involvement in ways that could unduly influence the media and public opinion.
“Mayor Charlie Clark must stop making public statements about the city and civic issues, whether on social media or other means, until after the election. Residents of Saskatoon deserve the chance to hear directly from all candidates and make informed decisions based on an open, honest debate on the issues that affect their community, not from third parties who are not involved in the mayoral election process,” said the statement.
