Response from Pat Fiacco:

The issue of affordable housing exists in many communities across Canada. In my first term as Regina’s Mayor, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) began calling for a National Housing Strategy.

As a member and former chair of FCM’s Big City Mayors Caucus (BCMC), I continue to be vigilant in raising awareness of this issue. Last year, I participated in the release of a report called the National Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness. The report called for a long-term funding strategy led by the Federal Government. That funding would be used to assist municipalities in preserving existing assets dedicated to the cause, reducing homelessness, and expanding the supply of affordable housing. 

At home, my commitment to this issue is a priority. That is why we are currently in the process of creating and filling the first ever full-time dedicated position to work on affordable housing in our city. The Affordable Housing Manager will work each day to ensure the City of Regina’s new Housing Incentives Policy is fully functional. We will ensure that the limited tools the city has to support affordable housing like providing tax abatements and capital contributions for affordable housing projects are utilized to their maximum capability.

I will continue to represent this cause for the citizens of Regina by working with other orders of government to raise awareness and garner their commitments in assuming a shared responsibility for this important issue.