News Releases

Five ‘white powder’ calls in recent days have used up Saskatoon Fire Department resources totaling $75,650.

“Each instance was determined to be non-hazardous, but each time we have to treat it as a potential safety threat,” says Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger. “So, each time, we have to call out our hazardous materials and emergency measures teams, on top of regular crews – and that costs money.”

Saskatoon police detectives are now investigating the calls.  No arrests have been made in the March events, but following a similar incident in November, a Saskatoon woman is accused in court.

During the City Council meeting Monday, the most recent events prompted Councillor and Police Commissioner Darren Hill to ask the City Solicitor to explore seeking restitution in any ‘white powder’ court case which results in a conviction.

“These incidents cause a lot of disruption for the businesses they target, for the people who work in these buildings and for our community,” Rodger says.  “If someone is arrested and a judge decides any of these incidents break the law, City Council does not want taxpayers to pay for the emergency response.”

The costs as presented below include the salaries and operating costs of all Fire Department staff who attended the scene of each incident.  Also included are costs of off-duty staff called back to provide coverage of stations left vacant during each incident.

Each incident was attended with 7-8 vehicles/apparatus and 23-26 staff.

Date                         Hours            Cost

March 16, 2017     4.00            $20,900.00
March 23, 2017     2.00            $10,500.00
March 27, 2017     2.50            $13,125.00
March 27, 2017     3.00            $15,750.00
March 28, 2017     3.00            $15,375.00

If anyone suspects a package or container they believe has questionable contents:

• do not handle more than necessary
• isolate the area: prevent people access to stop the spread of possible contamination
• call 9-1-1

Komodo dragons, Thorn and Shruikan (Shrew-khan), arrived in Saskatoon on March 5, 2017, and have been settling into the new Komodo Island exhibit at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo (SFFP&Z).

“We know kids and adults of all ages will be amazed by the Komodo dragons,” says Tim Sinclair-Smith, Manager, SFFP&Z.  “Having these unique animals in Saskatoon provides a great opportunity for us to talk about threatened species around the world, including those in our own backyard.”

Visitors to the SFFP&Z will have their first opportunity to see the Komodo dragons when the exhibit officially opens to the public on Saturday, April 1, 2017.

The Komodo dragons are currently on loan from the Calgary Zoo and will be featured at the SFFP&Z for the 2017 season.  The exhibit was made possible through the generous support of the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.

“The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation is thrilled to embrace the opportunity to be part of the Komodo Island exhibit,” says Dawn Woroniuk, Executive Director, Saskatoon Zoo Foundation.  “Working with the Zoo and many local sponsors, we were able to create a world class exhibit in a short amount of time.  We hope this exhibit will help bring awareness to the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation as we continue to work tirelessly to build for the future of this facility.”

The Saskatoon Zoo Foundation raises funds for capital improvements within the SFFP&Z.

Do not miss your opportunity to see the Komodo dragons!  From September to April, the zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and from May to August, daily hours are from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Additional information regarding the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park and Zoo can be found online at Saskatoon.ca/zoo.

For the sixth consecutive year, the City of Saskatoon is one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017.

This competition examines Canadian employer’s initiatives for workplace diversity and inclusion and recognizes those with noteworthy and unique programs. 

“We are taking a more systematic approach to help us organize, guide, and support the development of specific action plans,” says Catherine Gryba, General Manager of Corporate Performance.

Gryba says, “It’s more than just diversity and inclusion hiring practices. We’re committed to comprehensive plans that create a workplace that is respectful and inclusive to all employees.”

Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2017 are outlined in the March 28, 2017 edition of The Globe and Mail as well as on Eluta.ca.

The City has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion including being an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission.  As an equity partner, the City commits to the basic principles and objectives which outline a larger responsibility to foster an inclusive society.  

City  Council today approved a tax ratio of 1.59; the ratio used to be 1.75.

In simple terms,  the City’s annual budget determines how much it will need to ask from property owners to pay for services like garbage pick up or snow clearing.

The tax ratio policy determines how the taxes needed to cover those costs are split up; or putting it another way: what share of the taxes that different property classes like residential and commercial will pay. 

So, the approved ratio of 1.59 means that for every $1.00 in property taxes that a residential property pays, a commercial property will pay $1.59 on an equivalent assessment.

Here's what it looks like: 

The tax ratio shift has not affected Saskatoon's standing as having some of the lowest property taxes among Canadian prairie cities. 

City Council wants to explore appropriate legal measures in coordination with SUMA and other affected municipalities – including a court injunction – to stop a provincial government plan that would create an $11.4 million shortfall in City finances.

“We are not raising taxes today. Instead we are considering every other option available,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “What is happening is not fair or equal. The provincial government is asking city residents to pay twice for the same service. This is not right and we believe the provincial government should reconsider and explore other options.”

The Government of Saskatchewan released its budget Wednesday March 22, 2017; it became clear the provincial government plans to stop paying Grants-in-Lieu (GIL) of property taxes and to redirect those funds to the provincial government general revenue fund.

“The provincial government-owned power and gas companies are still charging customers the same amount, but instead of passing some of that on to cities, towns and villages for services those companies use, the government is keeping that money,” Mayor Clark says.  

“This leaves the City in a situation where our citizens will have to make up this loss of revenue one way or another - whether in service cuts or further cost reductions.”

Following a four-and-a-half hour special meeting Sunday afternoon, Council also resolved:

• To look into the long-term service agreements and options over lease payments from the Province for the P3 school sites including, but not limited to, charging market rent for the land
• That the Administration report on how much the Province be charged for emergency services and any other services the City provides on its properties
• That the Administration explore a market rent for the Rights of Way access by Crown Corporations
• That the Administration report on options for internal savings and revenue
• That the Administration implement a temporary hiring and discretionary spending freeze until Council can make a decision how to handle this situation, subject to the discretion of the City Manager (in the case of filling positions related to life-safety)
• That it request a joint meeting with Saskatoon Caucus MLAs from both parties to give them an information session on the impact the 2017 Provincial Budget will have on the citizens of Saskatoon

Mayor Clark stresses the provincial government’s move will have a huge impact on cities, towns and villages across the province.

“The city of Yorkton, for example, would lose the equivalent of 58% in revenue sharing – that’s a big hit.”

City Manager Murray Totland reports that nearly two-thirds of Saskatchewan’s population live in cities and are growing while other municipalities are getting smaller. He emphasizes that cities are the economic engine of the province and the magnitude of this cut is unprecedented and will have a lasting impact.

Clark adds the provincial government has suggested municipalities can fix this by taking money out of their reserves.

“Taking the money out of reserves would create a huge problem and a future liability for the city. We can’t kick the can down the road and create problems for the future,” states Clark. He says reserves are meant for when there is a big snowstorm or when buildings start to deteriorate. 

“This is why the Traffic Bridge went from being a $400,000 paint job to a $35 million bridge replacement - because there was not enough money put away to look after and maintain that bridge in the first place. We need to have the ability to maintain what we’ve already built.”  

Mayor Clark will join with other Mayors and Municipal leaders on Wednesday to meet with the provincial Minister of Government relations, Donna Harpauer, possibly other related Ministers.

“I will be talking about the impact this will have on our ability to provide services to our residents, the risk of drawing down reserves to pay for operating deficits, and the need to find another approach to dealing with this situation.  We need to take a problem-solving approach and keep the lines of communication open.”