Letters: Voters should take note of Regina’s low commercial property taxes

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A largely ignored report in the Financial Post last October found that Regina had the lowest commercial tax burden relative to residential taxes in a survey of a dozen major Canadian cities.

According to the Altus Group report, the ratios of commercial to residential taxes paid on a typical property are: Regina, 1.5; Saskatoon, 1.61; Edmonton, 2.55; Calgary, 3.36, and; Winnipeg, 1.93. The highest ratio among the major cities studied belongs to Montreal at over 4.5.

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Regina’s total debt burden for all taxpayers should be a major concern for all candidates and voters in the fall municipal elections.

The City of Regina will likely apply to the Saskatchewan Municipal Board this fall for a $780 million debt ceiling — an increase from the current $660 million recently adopted by the provincial council. That’s significantly more than Regina’s previously approved $450 million limit.

The reason for the expected request is cited as $722 million worth of Regina capital projects in the works that require debt financing. As this tidal wave of debt approaches all taxpayers, commercial parties also stand to benefit.

Plans for a new public library building downtown, for example, should help revive the continuing decline in interest in that business area. And the profitable opportunities presented by $722 million in upcoming city capital projects should lighten the hearts of many a local contractor.

Meanwhile, Regina’s commercial-to-residential tax ratio is the lowest of any major Canadian city.
That’s something Regina’s individual taxpayers need to know and will have a lot to say about in the coming months.

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Gord Brock, Regina

Keep urban living environments natural

Today, pollinators are at risk. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to create a continuous trail of wildflowers and native grasses in urban areas and along rural highways?

Some growth in ditches consists of broken-ground weeds. But can’t we tackle the harmful species and work to save patches of wildflowers and native grasses?

Along Assinboine Avenue leading to Pilot Butte Creek, the city mowed large swaths of land in mid-July. I know there is a patch of sow thistle that the bike path architect kindly avoided. Monarch butterflies lay their eggs in July and August.

Many birds, butterflies and insects that pollinate depend on wild flowers and flowering weeds for nectar. By cutting the grass early, we deprive them of their habitat.

Even the alfalfa field next to the cemetery, which provided habitat for pollinators, was baled for hay in early July and To my dismay, I saw that a field of prairie sunflowers near Arcola, west of University Park Drive, had also been bulldozed.

On the positive side, I appreciate the narrow, mowed trail on the east side of Wascana Creek, which makes its beauty more accessible to hikers.

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Gillian Harding-Russell, Regina

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