Leading Saskatoon into a New Era of Growth: My Affordability & Investment Plan
A clear path to transform Saskatoon into an economic leader and ensure we are an affordable beacon of opportunity for our young and growing population.
My Affordability & Investment Plan includes solutions aimed at fast-tracking housing development, revitalizing the downtown core, and ensuring local businesses benefit from Saskatoon’s growth. With Saskatoon’s median age now 35, the city is home to one of the youngest populations in Canada—young families, professionals, and entrepreneurs are building their lives here. These are the people buying homes, starting families and builder careers. We need to ensure Saskatoon is the city of their present and future.
My plan delivers a clear path to transform Saskatoon into an economic leader and ensure the city is an affordable, dynamic, and a beacon of opportunity for the young and growing population.
Key highlights of my Affordability & Investment Plan include:
- Fast-Tracking Housing Approvals: To meet the growing demand for housing, I will implement an expedited permitting approval process for certified homebuilders. My plan will help to deliver the 60,000 to 80,000 new housing units Saskatoon needs over the next decade, while keeping the city affordable for all by reducing red tape costs and to get shovels in the ground faster.
- Revitalizing Downtown: With downtown commercial vacancy rates near 19%, my vision includes incentives to convert empty office spaces into residential units, co-living developments, affordable housing, hotels, and cultural hubs.
- Supporting Local Businesses: My Homegrown Advantage Procurement Policy will prioritize local businesses when awarding city contracts. When I was Minister of SaskBuilds, 90% of our contracts went to local companies. We can replicate that success here, ensuring Saskatoon businesses are first in line.
- Signing on the Chamber YXE Pledge: I am the only mayoral candidate to sign onto the pledge. I support all three of their pillars and address many of their suggestions in my platform, including their nuanced support for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED). We need a solid funding plan that doesn’t burden taxpayers.
- Smart Budgeting for a Smart Future: This city council has failed to manage Saskatoon’s finances effectively, leading year-after-year tax hikes without improvements in service. I will clean up this flawed process by expanding the role of the city auditor and launching an efficiency review, we’ll find the waste, cut unnecessary spending, and ensure every dollar is spent wisely. We will put freeze on unnecessary management hiring while prioritizing frontline services like public safety. In addition, my 8-Point Budget Renewal Plan will improve the budget process.