News Releases

With the economy slowly re-opening, City, health and community leaders are concerned too many people are gathering in public places – actions that risk spreading COVID-19 in our community.

“We have seen too many people not following the Public Health Orders and beginning to gather in groups in parks and open spaces. This risks us losing the progress we have made in saving lives and keeping the community safe,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“Even though the weather is warm and the first phase of re-opening is ahead, the risk of outbreaks remains very real.”

Mayor Clark says Saskatoon and Saskatchewan have collectively shown tremendous leadership in containing the spread of COVID-19.  

“Our continued success hinges on everyone working together. We must all be smart and safe about physical distancing measures.”

A community health expert suggests everyone must keep the Public Health Orders top of mind.

“As the plan to re-open our province and our city unfolds, we need to maintain the changes we have made to how we work, play, live and learn,” says Dr. Jasmine Hasselback Medical Health Officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. “We are just starting to enter the next round of this fight against COVID-19, which means we need to be more vigilant than ever.”

Dr. Hasselback reminds everyone must continue routinely washing their hands for 20 seconds, not touch the nose, mouth or eyes; avoid interactions with those outside their own households, stay home when ill and call HealthLine 811 or their doctor as appropriate.

“It also means that even though the weather is nicer and you may want to be outside, we still have to maintain physical distancing – stay two meters away from anyone who is not a member of your own household or your virtual household to keep yourself and others safe.”

As Director of Saskatoon Emergency Measures Organization, Pamela Goulden-McLeod has been helping guide the City’s COVID-19 response since January.  She warns too many people are quickly placing their family and neighbours’ health in jeopardy.

“If we begin to let down our guard thinking everything is back to normal we could erase all the good work we’ve done as a community,” she says.

“We cannot gather in large numbers and we have to spread out. This is the very best way to stop infections. It will protect our front-line health and essential service providers – the people who keep our community running.”

Starting next week, to help everyone enjoy the more than 200 parks in Saskatoon, Recreation Staff will be redeployed as Physical Distancing Ambassadors to eight areas of the city.  They will make sure signage and barriers are in place at approximately 250 playgrounds, and replace supplies as needed. Each week, every playground and adjacent park area will get checked.

While out in the parks and sports fields, the Ambassadors will also be promoting and providing public education on the importance of physical distancing while using Saskatoon’s outdoor public places, and to remind everyone that organized sports or games with groups of people are still not permitted.

Meewasin, which oversees the river valley including some of Saskatoon’s most popular trail and natural areas inside and outside the city also stresses the importance of physical distancing.

“We are so happy that the community has the opportunity to use our rural and urban sites for hiking and accessing the river but it is imperative that everyone adheres to restrictions on group sizes and only attends with members of their household. Safety is the top priority,” explains CEO Andrea Lafond.

“Meewasin’s goal is to work with community and government to continue to flatten the curve for COVID-19 and do everything we can to support healthy use of outdoor spaces.”

While public safety is at the forefront for the Saskatoon Police Service, it has a community reminder.

“Our officers are responsible for ensuring members of the public are adhering to the restrictions outlined in the Public Health Orders,” says Supt. Randy Huisman.  “With the arrival of warmer weather we are responding to increasing reports of violations and paying special attention to gathering sizes and social distancing.  Failing to meet the public health guidelines can result in sizable fines.”

Please visit saskatoon.ca/covid19 for timely updates from the City of Saskatoon on everything you need to know to stay safe. For more on the Re-Open Saskatchewan plan please click here.

City Council has endorsed a plan to maintain core services while responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will be using a combination of spending reductions and utilization of the City’s stabilization reserves to offset a significant portion of the deficit” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson. “The strategy does not rely on a further tax increase to address this deficit. We will continue discussions with other orders of government on possible assistance.”

If there is a remaining deficit that is not covered by relief packages, the City will consider making adjustments to the 2021 operating and capital budgets.

One key service that will be delivered in typical fashion is the street sweeping program. This year, due to a late start to the program because of a late spring melt and different operating processes due to COVID-19, the program will take a little longer – into July to finish rather than the usual June end date.

Additionally, the 2020 budgeted construction projects will go forward this year.

However, most water projects with lead line replacements will be deferred until later this year or to 2021 says Terry Schmidt, General Manager, Transportation and Construction.

“We will take a look later this summer to see how people may be adjusting to the pandemic, and make a determination of whether it makes sense to proceed with the lead line replacement program,” Schmidt says. “If it’s not possible, we will defer until next year.”

Council supported the overall recommendation to continue with budgeted construction projects for the 2020 season.

“We need to keep City assets in shape,” says Mayor Charlie Clark. “We’re looking at some $390 million in financial activity to keep the economy going and businesses being able to hire people.”

In compliance of the Public Health Order, the City continues to work with its partners in the construction industry to ensure appropriate physical distancing and other appropriate safety measures are in place at such work sites.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had wide and deep effects on City work and finances; as a result, the Administration has developed a comprehensive strategy to mitigate the impacts.

“The pandemic has been like nothing most of us have ever experienced in our lifetimes,” says City Manager, Jeff Jorgenson.

“The impacts of the pandemic have had a profound impact on the City’s finances. While sobering, we feel the situation is manageable, thanks to the prudent financial management practices in place. The proposed strategy the Administration is presenting to City Council on Monday includes a balance of:

• maintaining civic services;
• reducing expenditures;
• utilizing fiscal stabilization reserves; and
• continuing to work with other orders of government on solutions.

“The strategy we are recommending will need to be gradual and will take time. If the financial response is too severe, our diverse economy and citizens will be negatively affected. By maintaining services as much as possible, we can continue providing citizens with the quality of life they deserve and expect.”

Jorgenson says the City plays an important role in our local economy with our capital programs, which are essential to maintenance of the City’s assets like streets, roads, and underground utilities. 

“Deferral of these important capital works would only result in the City falling behind in infrastructure renewal. Through proposed continuation of our capital programs, the City will continue to serve an important role in keeping our community working and continue the important investments in our infrastructure.”

The financial details are outlined in a report set for discussion at the meeting of City Council Monday, April 27.

In the wake of the provincial government’s plan to re-open the Saskatchewan economy, the report looks at three financial impact scenarios of when physical distancing restrictions could be lifted and services reopen.

The total estimated negative impacts of COVID-19 on the City of Saskatoon for the three scenarios are:

• Restrictions End June 30 – approximately $32.2 million
• Restrictions End September 30 – approximately $52.7 million
• Restrictions End December 31 – approximately $68.6 million

However, there are offsetting savings attributable to item such as fuel cost reduction, reduced workforce, reduced bulk power charges, and utility stabilization reserves. With these savings included, the preliminary projected preliminary deficits would be:

• Restrictions End June 30 – Deficit of approximately $20.2 million
• Restrictions End September 30 – Deficit of approximately $32.0 million
• Restrictions End December 31 – Deficit of approximately $43.0 million

Through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the federal government is being asked to consider a relief program for the municipal sector, but the outcome of the request is uncertain.

However, the Administration has proposed several options to manage the remaining COVID-19 shortfall, including:

• Hiring freeze;
• Non-essential spending freeze;
• Travel and training reductions;
• Cost reductions for park maintenance due to reduced staffing levels; and
• Use $2.8M of fiscal stabilization reserve in 2020; hold remaining $2M for 2021.

Factoring in these savings totalling $9.5 million for 2020, the remaining projected deficit would be reduced to:

• Restrictions End June 30 – approximately $10.1 million
• Restrictions End September 30 – approximately $22.0 million
• Restrictions End December 31 – approximately $32.9 million

If the Administration’s recommended strategy is approved, the City will have offset the majority of the negative impacts of COVID-19.  For example, for the September 30 Scenario, savings of $32.7 in total will offset the $52.7 million of negative COVID-19 impacts, resulting in a net projected deficit of $22.0 million.

As the situation continues to evolve, the Administration will be able to update financial projections. Additionally, ongoing discussions with other orders of government on possible assistance are occurring.  Considering this, the Administration is not recommending substantive changes to infrastructure renewal or service delivery strategies other than those outlined in this report.

If there is a remaining deficit that is not covered by relief packages, the Administration recommends City Council consider making adjustments to the 2021 operating and capital budgets.

“Taking this approach will allow the City to adapt to the ever-changing landscape in front of us, and will allow us to provide an economic stimulus role – this year – in 2020 – with construction and other capital projects already in the budget,” Jorgenson points out. “We’ll then be able to continue working with the other orders of government on relief solutions.”

Read the full report here. 

The City supports the provincial government’s Re-open Saskatchewan plan with a reminder that we all need to keep physical distancing and established protective health measures in place while it slowly unfolds.

“The whole country will be watching us. Our success will rely on everyone taking this virus very seriously and following all of the precautions. We want Saskatchewan to succeed in this careful and phased re-opening,” says Mayor Charlie Clark.

“Between now and May 4, I believe there are three key areas of risk that we will need to work with the Province on: ensuring and supporting businesses that re-open to be able to follow the rules and have the equipment necessary to remain safe; greater clarity around the rules for social gatherings; and fixing ongoing gaps in the vulnerable population strategy that is continues to see too many people remaining unsafely on the streets.”

Released a day ago, Thursday, April 23 the Re-open Saskatchewan plan is a five-phase plan aimed at slowly lifting restrictions so more businesses can re-open and more employees can go back to work.

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson says the City has done many things to flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases in Saskatoon.

“We’ve made many staffing and service changes so that our employees can safely deliver services to our community, and will continue to be vigilant. The province has not changed its direction to citizens and employers with respect to social distancing, so nothing has changed in that regard,” he says. “With the provincial plan now launched we are working on plans and options for opening our golf courses and campground.”

Emergency planners will continue to play a central part as the Re-open plan rolls out, says the Director of Emergency Management Organization.

“The bottom-line is: we are all continuing to live under a State of Emergency and a Public Health Order,” says Pamela Goulden-McLeod. “We have to keep practicing physical distancing measures so that all the hard work we’ve done as a community is not put as risk while we slowly re-open the economy.”

A package of administrative reports focused on the pandemic response will be later today placed on the City Council Agenda for its meeting Monday, April 27.