REGINA - The race to become the mayor of Regina continued on Tuesday as six candidates attended the mayoral forum at the Rosemont Community School to answer key issues the public had concerning the election.
Of those six candidates, previous Ward 4 councillor Lori Bresciani attended the forum, with Bevann Fox, Kevin Kardash, Shawn Sparvier, Bill Pratt and Chad Bachynski joining her.
Sandra Masters, who won the last mayoral election, was scheduled to attend the forum but was unable to come that night.
Each candidate answered four questions from the public. The first question was how the candidates would deal with the increased crime in Regina.
If elected, Fox would add more prevention services to stop crime while adding more addiction treatment centres to ultimately stop the root of crimes.
Pratt gave a similar answer by suggesting the issue stems from not giving those committing crimes the help they need.
Meanwhile, Sparvier believes the mayor should have special constable training to get first-hand experience instead of what he called sitting at your desk and assuming a mayor knows what's going on in terms of crime.
The next question was regarding building a community centre in west Regina.
Currently, there are community centres west of Lewvan Drive, leaving communities like Rosemont and Normanview West without a centre in their neighbourhood.
The large area without a community centre was highlighted by Bachynski. He suggested Regina could get funding from the provincial and federal government to open up more spaces for programs to support mental health and addictions.
Kardash said he wants to work with the recreational director to have programs so kids can play tennis or basketball.
Bresciani said a city assessment would determine the next steps of what's needed and the total costs. She highlighted the work done by the previous Ward 8 councillor, Shanon Zachidniak.
Zachidniak, who is seeking re-election, also attended the event for the Ward 8 councillor forum. She was asked a similar question and noted the new Costco being developed in the area could attract investors to help get a community centre going.
The third question inquired about the revenue of the current Lawson Aquatic Centre and how much the difference between the revenue and the amount the city pays yearly. The question also asked what the difference between the cost and revenue would be for the new Indoor Aquatic Facility (IAF) and what each candidate's stance was regarding big projects like the aquatic centre.
Pratt said the revenue for the current Lawson pool is $1 million a year, while the expenses add up to $2.1 million yearly. He said it’s typical for each pool to require about 50 to 60 per cent of subsidizing. Pratt said the pool will never make money, and taxpayers' dollars are needed to fund the facility.
As to no one’s surprise, Bresciani ripped the IAF. She noted that the new aquatic facility would generate $3.9 million in revenue and cost $11.2 million per year. The deficit of $7.3 million yearly would make it impossible for the city to tackle other big projects, said Bresciani.
Sparvier said he would expand the aquatic centre and turn it into a community centre to feed and provide shelter. With his proposed partnership with the First Nations, he said the $7 million cost for the IAF yearly could be lowered.
The final question asked candidates what would happen to the houses in the intensification zones identified by Regina.
Most of the candidates said either the city is not planning to remove houses from those areas or they would ensure people do not lose the property they own for updated housing.
Sparvier gave his take on the matter and said if people could not maintain their homes and ultimately ruin the area, the city should have the authority to redevelop the property.
Kardash also mentioned expanding neighbourhoods and providing infrastructure so people can afford to move if needed.
