New Council

Regina has a new City Council, and it looks like the majority of them favour action on the Renewable City motion. Even the anti-Renewables Mayor Fougere was defeated.

Ward 6 has a new Councillor.

Congratulations Dan LeBlanc, I wish you all the best in helping to lead our city forward and through this challenging time. pic.twitter.com/7qXpaLUf4p

— Joel Murray (@Joelmurrayyqr) November 10, 2020

https://www.facebook.com/110084244149454/videos/639068370140266/?tn=%2CO-R

I am thankful to residents of Ward 1 for electing me as their councillor on Regina City Council. I knocked on thousands of doors and enjoyed hearing from so many people Thanks to @BYoungYqr for her 8 years on council. She can leave knowing she made a difference. #yqrvotes pic.twitter.com/0cCNU3SmIs

— Cheryl Stadnichuk (@Cherylstad) November 10, 2020

Thank you to the residents of Ward 8 in #yqr for electing me as your representative. Thanks to everyone who put their name forward to run in this election. I look forward to working to build a better Regina. Good night! #yqrvotes

— Shanon Zachidniak (@shanonzach) November 10, 2020

There are bound to be interesting Council meetings coming up, too bad they’re on Wednesday afternoon when people are working. Good luck having the public engaged.

There is so much to do, but first I think overpriced bus fares need to be addressed.

Here's a municipal problem to fix that won't cost too much, and helps lower car-dependency. Post-secondary student bus passes are too expensive. They should eventually be free, but lowering the fares is something Council could do right away.https://t.co/2o55BhX7w7#YQRcc

— John Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) November 10, 2020

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What You Don’t See

Jun 19
Leader-Post:
Hey John. I’m thinking of doing something about the tough position Ryan Meili is in over TransMountain. I saw he’s taking a tonne of flak on social media over his post. Care to share your thoughts in a bit more depth?

Maybe.

A few minutes later, I responded:
Meili is in the unenviable position of having to create critically important change in a population saturated by Petrostate propaganda. It’s not easy to speak with people who can’t listen because their brains are baked into an idea that pipelines are our only route to prosperity. Of course that’s not true. Evraz workers could be building wind turbines, and solar array racking, and rails for trains to carry people on zero emission futuristic cross-Canada trips. How’s he going to fit that into a soundbite that will go into a story in the newspaper that’s working with an “Energy War” propaganda room in Alberta with the Petrostate government there?

Any other questions about this?

Leader-Post:
Do you think he’s likely to shed support from people whose number one issue is climate change?

Some individuals may choose to stay home or vote differently, but they’ll be hurting themselves if they care about the climate crisis as a central issue. What could be more important than the expected end of our livable world before the Maple Leafs have a predicted shot at winning the Stanley Cup again?
Meili may not be right about the pipeline, but I do think he’s serious about some real pollution reduction, and that’s more than can be said about Moe’s Sask Party.

(If the Leafs win in 26 years according to the previous Leafs and Jays then Raptors wins, that’s 2045)

Fun fact!!
Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967 in game 6
26 years later the Toronto Blue Jays win the world series in game 6
26 years later the Toronto Raptors win the NBA championship…in game 6
So…… 26 more years to go Leafs fans.

— Shawn Chaulk (@iamhockeyman99) June 14, 2019

har har.

Leader-Post:
Thanks for this. Might have a follow-up later.

(there wasn’t)
You’re welcome. Sure.

My comments didn’t appear in the newspaper online later that day.

Just Transition summit – more video

I enjoyed these presentations, and you especially have to watch the concluding speech by Ella.

The adults spent most of the time driving/talking though, but it was worthwhile learning about more-fair ways to shut down the fossil fuel industry than waiting for the inevitable lay-offs after extended climate/water/soil/wildlife/people destruction.

A Momentous City Council Meeting

Tonight was a night of firsts for City Council. It was the first time multiple teenagers presented delegations. It was the first time the Council got a standing ovation from the gallery for passing a motion. And it was the first time the Council made a commitment to make Regina 100% renewable by 2050.

If the budget passes without money for:#Transit#solar#yqrbike
improvements, then we'll know #yqrcc was lying tonight. Let's make sure they don't go back on their word.

— John Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) October 30, 2018

What’s at stake? Less than half the world that is left.

Cllr. Hawkins wondered why we have to run empty buses at some hours.
Many reasons, & he'd know if he ever used them, or asked @YQRTransit.
The fares are too high. We need to consider @FreePublicTrans soon.
Increase Sunday ridership? Make fares lower or free @astevensward3#yqrcc

— John Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) October 30, 2018

It’s not right that Fougere will get to brag about passing a #100Possible motion unanimously. He’s dragged his heels on the file for forever. He’s provided the obstacle to innovation.

But I’ll take his compliance now. We don’t have time left to argue about it.

Given his comments to the media after about having to implement the changes “sustainably” I take that to mean he wants to go as slowly as possible, only taking on projects that don’t increase taxes, and which don’t put the city into debt (which isn’t a
possibility under current provincial law so far as I understand).