News Releases

The Saskatoon Fire Department recently became aware of deficiencies to fire and life safety systems in a building at 1416, 20th Street West.

"During a recent call to the building, firefighters identified concerns with the operability of the fire alarm system, sprinkler system and fire extinguishers," says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. "As a result, the Fire Department issued a Notice to Remedy for this address."

Rodger says the department also arranged qualified technicians to repair these systems and make sure they are operable, so residents have a safe living space.

Work on these systems will commence at 6:30 p.m. tonight, Friday January 29.

"We collaborated with many people on this course of action and the goal is to have the building safety systems operational and safe for occupants by Saturday morning."

Residents will not be confined, but to ensure compliance with the Provincial Health Orders, residents are being asked to stay in their suites while the work is completed.

The Saskatoon Police Service has agreed to support the technicians by helping provide a secure work site for them.  Officers will also escort residents if they need to leave or enter the building.

The City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatoon Tribal Council are coordinating the kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) program. The training is an opportunity for Indigenous people to gain essential skills and access employment opportunities in water treatment and distribution facilities —such as with the City of Saskatoon’s Water and Waste Operations. 

The program offers two streams, one for Indigenous youth between 18-29 years of age and another for Indigenous people of any age. The stream for Indigenous youth will begin in early March with essential skills training taught by the Radius Community Centre. Saskatchewan Polytechnic will provide training in water treatment and distribution to both streams starting in late March/early April. 

"This kanātan nipīy program is an important pathway to knowledge and employment and I am very pleased that the City of Saskatoon is part of it," says Mayor Charlie Clark. "Our futures are bound together, in our city and in Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan. I would like to thank all of the partners who are part of this program and are strengthening our future together."

"Partnerships like this, that bring all stakeholders to the table, remove barriers and ensure the greatest success possible for everyone involved," says Geordy McCaffrey, Executive Director, Gabriel Dumont Institute. "GDI is proud to be a part of this initiative that will lead to sustainable employment for our Métis clients."

"For 50 years Radius Community Centre has been helping people work towards their career goals," says Dorothy Hyde, Executive Director, Radius Community Centre. "We are honoured to be a part of this community team supporting Indigenous employment and know that working together helps to build a brighter future for individuals, families, business and community." 

"Indigenous students are an important part of Saskatoon’s community. Providing essential skills training is one way to help the Indigenous learners participating in the program to succeed in their water treatment training and as members of today’s workforce," says Dr. Larry Rosia, President and CEO, Saskatchewan Polytechnic. "We are excited to partner with the City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, and Saskatoon Tribal Council on this innovative program."

"This training will enhance and improve the quality life for all people that require clean potable water," says Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand. "As First Nations people, we are all protectors of water. STC has developed many training and employment partnerships. By working together with our partners, we provide opportunities for our people to become gainfully employed."

Applicants must have their Grade 12 or GED and a Class 5 driver’s license. Interested applicants can send their transcript, driver abstract, resume, and three references to kanatannipiy.project@gmail.com by February 12, 2021. 

The kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) project costs $1,642 per student. Funding for training costs and living allowances may be available to some applicants through the Gabriel Dumont Institute and Saskatoon Tribal Council. Funding options will be discussed during the application process.

The City Administration is proposing a loan program that will allow homeowners to make their properties more energy efficient.

Following extensive research and public engagement, the proposed Home Energy Loan Program (HELP) will be presented to the Standing Policy Committee on Environment, Utilities, and Corporate Services at its regular meeting February 1, 2021.

If approved, HELP will provide loans for energy efficiency retrofits or renewable energy installations for single-family homeowners.

“It’s a unique program – loans provided from the City are attached to the property being retrofitted or renovated and would be paid back through the homeowners’ property taxes,” says Jeanna South, Director of Sustainability. “The loans are attached to the property and not the person, so the loan can be passed from one homeowner to the next if the property is sold.”   

 Examples include window and door replacements, solar panel installations, heating and cooling system upgrades, or added insulation.

South says the program is designed to benefit the community in many ways beyond addressing climate change in Saskatoon and nationwide. 

“It will assist homeowners in paying for home upgrades that will reduce energy bills, make those upgrades financially accessible, help to make homes more comfortable, and it will stimulate Saskatoon’s economy, especially in the construction and renewables sectors.”

Based on research, public engagement and lessons learned from other municipalities, the report recommends key factors such as:

• Eligibility requirements will include homeowners’ demonstrated good standing on property tax payment
• Participants will pay an administration fee, proposed at approximately $500 per participant, that can be spread out over time in the loan
• Interest rates on loans will match the City’s interest rate on debt for the same term (between 2-4% depending on prime rate)

If approved by City Council, an application will be made through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, bylaw development will proceed with the goal of launching HELP later in 2021.

This program supports the City’s Low Emissions Community Plan, a roadmap that outlines 40 actions the City and community of Saskatoon need to take to help mitigate climate change. 

Visit saskatoon.ca/engage/help for more information on the program or to track its progress.

The City of Saskatoon has, once again, been reconfirmed as having a ‘AAA’ credit rating with a “stable” outlook by S&P Global Rating Services (S&P), a favourable ranking that the City has retained for more than 10 years.

In reaffirming the City’s ‘AAA’/Stable credit rating, S&P’s report released today noted the City “will continue to benefit from a strong and diverse economy that supports strong budgetary performance, keeping debt issuance manageable and liquidity exceptional.”

The City’s Chief Financial Officer Kerry Tarasoff points out S&P grants this rating for many reasons; the S&P report says the City’s “…disclosure and transparency are what we believe to be good, and the City prepares robust annual operating and capital budget documents.”

The report also highlights an expectation that the City's strong financial management will keep Saskatoon with a ‘AAA/Stable’ rating for years to come.

“We have heard some recent commentary about the City’s transparency and financial performance in a ‘report card’ of sorts,” Tarasoff says. “The rating City Council relies on is the one from S&P Global Rating Services.”

He adds as with all Canadian municipalities, COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the City’s finances for 2020 and 2021, however he says S&P Global is treating these impacts as temporary in nature.  Taken from the report  released today:

 “Although the impact of the pandemic depends on the rate of spread and duration, we believe that Saskatoon's prudent financial management and cost-containment efforts will continue to generate robust operating balances and mitigate the direct fiscal impacts stemming from the pandemic. At the same time, we expect the City's prudent financial management and diverse economy will continue to support Saskatoon in generating strong budgetary performances that will help fund its capital agenda and keep its debt level manageable; this, in turn, will help preserve the City's exceptionally strong liquidity.”

Key findings within the January 27, 2021 S&P Ratings Direct® Report are:

• Saskatoon’s diverse economy with a growing population will provide consistency in the city's property tax base despite the negative impact of COVID-19
• The City's prudent financial management will continue to allow it to post strong operating balances
• A stated belief that “the city's relationship with the province will remain well-balanced and supportive”
• Saskatoon will continue to generate robust operating margins despite the near-term impact of the pandemic on the City's fiscal position
• Strong operating balances will help the City in implementing its capital plans while maintaining minimal levels of tax-supported debt
• The City's exceptional liquidity position will continue to support its creditworthiness

The full report is available on the City’s website saskatoon.ca/finance.

The City wants property owners to better understand the provincial property assessment process and has developed new tools and information to help. As is required by provincial law, all property types must be reassessed every four years. The City of Saskatoon issued more than 100,000 Reassessment Notices to property owners via mail earlier this week along with an informative guide.

“We’re here to help property owners and answer their assessment questions,” says Bryce Trew, City Assessor. “For 2021, we’ve created six new videos and enhanced our online tools to assist property owners with additional information to help explain the assessment process – which can be confusing at times.

We encourage property owners to review their property’s new assessed value and characteristics on our website and to get in touch with us for support. Most assessment-related questions can be addressed by chatting with an assessor before deciding to file a formal appeal with fees. Property owners may connect with us by email, phone or by making a safely distanced in-person appointment, adds Trew.”

The 2021 Assessment Roll is now available for public viewing.  Property owners also have a 60-Day Customer Review Period – the time during which they may formally appeal their assessment.  The roll and appeal period are both open from January 25 through to March 29, 2021.

 “Some property owners have asked if their property’s new assessed value is what they would typically sell their property for and this may not be the case,” Trew says. “The assessed value of your property is calculated for taxation purposes only - it’s an estimate based on sold properties in your market area.  The provincial law works with a legislated base date and for 2021 that date is January 1, 2019.

It’s important to note that any market influence COVID-19 may or may not have had on a property’s assessed value will not be reflected in the 2021 property reassessment figures as the pandemic occurred after the base date.” 

2021 Reassessment Information Backgrounder

Highlights of the 2021 Assessment Roll:               

• The total value of the 2021 Taxable Assessment Roll is $41.3 billion, compared to $43 billion in 2020 as a result of reassessment.
  • Commercial assessment accounts for $9.9 billion (approx. 3,300 properties)
  • Residential assessment accounts for $31.4 billion (approx. 91,000 properties)

• The typical Residential property assessed value in Saskatoon decreased 7% and the typical Non-Residential (Commercial) property assessed value increased 8%. (In the last assessment cycle, the Residential tax class increased 12% and the Commercial tax class increased 36%.)
  • If a property owner had an assessment reduction of 7% in assessment, this does not mean their property tax will decrease 7%.

Key Findings from the 2021 Assessment Roll

Assessment Subgroups:

Single-Family Residential: decreased 6% (Median Assessment is $344,000)

Residential Condominiums: decreased 12% (Median Assessment is $209,900)

Multi-Residential: decreased 11% (Median Assessment is $1,404,900)

Retail: increased 24% (Median Assessment is $1,503,500)

Office: increased 16% (Median Assessment is $1,377,750)

Industrial: decreased 10% (Median Assessment is $1,431,900)

Hotel: decreased 23% (Median Assessment is $9,688,300)

• 93% of Single-Family properties had a change of plus or minus 10% of the average change (decrease of 7%).
• 28% of Residential Condos saw a decrease of 10%-20% more than average change (decrease of 7%).
• Within the Multi-Residential subgroup, Townhouse decreased 19% and Low-Rise decreased 14%, the largest decreases. These two groups account for 90% of the Multi-Residential subgroup inventory.
• 33% of Commercial properties had a change of plus or minus 10% of the average change (increase of 8%). 

Questions? We’re here to help.

Email: assessment.submit@saskatoon.ca

Mail: City of Saskatoon, Assessment & Valuation, 222 - 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5

Call:  306-975-3227 for questions or to book an in-person appointment Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visit saskatoon.ca/assessment for more information.