News Releases

The City will move to weekly garbage collection as soon as operationally possible.  Following a decision at a special meeting Wednesday, City Council has directed the Administration to change an earlier decision to extend bi-weekly garbage pick-up.

For the time being, bi-weekly garbage (black cart) collections will stay in place, with the expectation to move to weekly collections by mid-May.

The earlier decision to maintain bi-weekly collections was designed to minimize COVID-19 transmission risk as new workers came on.  With the direction from Council, solutions will be found to provide weekly garbage collection and guard the health of the City’s core workforce with the following considerations:

• The health and safety of our staff and residents are a priority. Waste Operations will continue to implement enhanced physical distancing and sanitation procedures to guard the health and safety of our staff and of Saskatoon residents.
• We recognize with many residents now working from home, there will inevitably be an increased accumulation of household waste. Tonnages are being monitored. 
• We are taking all the necessary precautions to prepare for what is to come and will adapt as the situation continues to evolve. 

The Green Cart (Yard & Food Waste) Program will proceed as planned, with seasonal operations beginning on Monday, May 4.

We will be opening of the City Compost Depots at the same time as the Green Cart Program - ensuring physical distancing and sanitization procedures.

We will monitor the residential garbage collection program as it begins operations to ensure that the health and safety priorities are being met.

Updates will be provided should any adjustments to the program be deemed necessary.

Saskatoon Transit is cooperating with a police investigation following a stabbing incident in and around a Transit bus last night.

“We applaud the quick actions of our Operator and grateful that they are safe,” says Director of Saskatoon Transit, Jim McDonald. “Fortunately, incidents like this involving a Transit bus are very rare and our service remains a very safe way to get around.”

Two people, male and female were already on the bus when another male and female got on at Appleby Drive. The four riders were the only passengers on the bus.

A short time later at Avenue T and 20th Street, a fight broke out between the two groups. The Operator called emergency; stopped the bus and opened the rear doors allowing the passengers to get out. A man appeared to have been stabbed to his chest area and a woman was cut on the face. 

The injured people got back on the bus until paramedics arrived. Ambulance staff took a man and woman to hospital for further treatment.

“We again ask everyone to please only take Transit when necessary – that is, to go to work, get groceries, medicine or for medical appointments not related to COVID-19 symptoms,” McDonald says. “Our buses are running to get medical staff, first responders and other essential workers where they need to go so they can help the rest of us.” 

McDonald adds that avoiding unneeded trips provides Operators and necessary travellers the physical space they need for a safe ride.

The Operator was not involved and is safe; anytime following a serious incident, employees are removed from their shifts and offered counselling and other supports.

Once police were finished their investigation on the bus, it was sent for an established deep cleaning procedure any time bodily fluids are present on a bus.

Police have requested the on-board security video. There is no word on arrests, Public Health Order violations or criminal charges.

The City is taking further steps to adjust its workforce to respond to the impacts COVID-19 has had on its employees and certain services.

“How we deliver our work has changed for every single employee,” says City Manager Jeff Jorgenson.  “The primary focus of the City has been the safety of staff and our community.  It is now time to focus also on the difficult issue of adjusting staffing levels to meet work demands.”

The Community Services department is affected the most, as all Leisure Centres are shut down likely until at least mid-summer. Further, to comply with the need to keep as many people home as possible, the City will not be staffing-up as usual this summer.

Services in many areas will be adjusted so that seasonal staffing levels can be lowered and meet physical distancing requirements for those who are still at work.

“In order to achieve this, we have developed a strategy that is intended to reduce or possibly eliminate the need for involuntary layoffs of permanent employees most affected by the Leisure Centre and civic building closures,” Jorgenson says.

Here is an explanation of the City’s approach:

A voluntary layoff program will be rolled out this week starting with CUPE 59 members.

“We have heard that employees throughout the City are interested in a temporary layoff, because they have family or personal needs, and at this time would like to be out of the workforce.  We are starting with CUPE 59 because they are most affected by the Leisure Centre closures,” he says. 

Staff from anywhere within CUPE 59 and interested in participating will be able to request a temporary layoff, and it will be accommodated if possible. As important services must continue, not all requests will be granted. Division Directors will have discretion, however it’s hoped this will free up positions – some of which can be filled by CUPE 59 members who currently have no work due to Leisure Centre and civic building closures. These are people who work in the Leisure Centres or were in-person customer service representatives. 

Yesterday 54 members of CUPE 59 received telephone calls to advise them they would be receiving layoff notices. Again, over the next four weeks, it’s hoped virtually all those affected will be offered alternate work opportunities such as:

• positions vacated by people choosing to take voluntary layoff,
• seasonal opportunities in the Parks Division,
• non-traditional work such as “Physical Distancing Ambassadors” throughout the City to encourage citizens to follow social/physical distancing in parks and on pathways, and to keep an eye on play structures to make sure safety tape and signing remains in place,
• possible administrative support to some local service providers who are working furiously to support Saskatoon’s most vulnerable citizens.

“While I can’t guarantee that everyone will be re-deployed, we are doing our best to create opportunities for employment.  We need to be fiscally responsible as well as a compassionate and responsible employer.”

In the coming weeks Jorgenson adds, the City will be expanding the voluntary layoff program to other areas of the City and will work with the various unions and staff associations. 

“We must continue providing our important civic services, but we are balancing that with our desire to support staff through this unprecedented pandemic situation.”