Don Atchison – LiveableYXE

Q1 Food: Food is one of our most fundamental basic needs, but not everyone in Saskatoon has access to fresh, affordable food. The Saskatoon Poverty Reduction Partnership’s 12 Bold Ideas to Eliminate Poverty states that making food more affordable includes a combination of reducing food costs, ensuring people have more income to buy food, and ensuring everyone has access to healthy food choices. Building food assets (e.g., emergency food assistance, meal programs, gardening and farming, grocery markets/stores, community supports and education programs) in every Saskatoon neighbourhood would improve access to healthy food, reduce social isolation, drive local economic development, and address food insecurity. What initiatives and policy options will you champion or support to ensure every neighbourhood in Saskatoon has access to healthy and affordable food?

I believe we need first of all to have community gardens throughout the entire city. The community garden patch is a symbol of what can be done. We should convert unused park space into gardens. In neighbourhoods with vacant lots we need a more concerted effort. Perhaps the Food Bank should have greenhouses to produce more vegetables year-round. We should also be partnering with other organizations, service clubs, NGO’s and the University. I would like to see school boards develop gardens where the children grow the food.

Q2 Arts and Culture: A new central library is an investment that will benefit all members of the Saskatoon community for years to come. The new central library build will generate jobs and economic growth. This will be especially important as we recover from the financial fallout of COVID-19. The total project budget has not changed since it was approved and is $134 million. Since 2009 there have been scheduled incremental increases to the library levy to build the capital reserves for the project. Future increases are scheduled to be $645,000 in the years 2021-2024; and $200,000 in 2025 and 2026. The average homeowner will see increases of less than $5 per year in 2021-2024, and less than $1.60 per year in 2025 and 2026. This schedule fully funds the new central library project, including debt repayment and increases to operating costs once the library is open, which means there are no additional increases related to the new central library project beyond 2026. Do you support the building of a library for downtown Saskatoon, as committed to the current City Council?

No.
This is a what if question. We need the legal opinion of the City Clerk and the City Solicitor to determine if the current council’s decision can be reversed or rescinded. Until this critical question is answered, everything is hypothetical. I support a new library, but not what is currently being proposed. I think there are different ways to finance. why do the need to own? Why not a lease or lease to purchase and have other developments with the library, such as a commercial or residential tower, commercial retail space? The library rent at Station 20 and I believe the library in Stonebridge is also a lease. Libraries are required as they too continue to evolve. The libraries of today are different from the libraries of the 1960’s.

Q3 Arts and Culture: Our built and natural environments provide a framework for our urban living. Our buildings and spaces contribute to a unique sense of place and help tell the story of Saskatoon. Our heritage buildings and structures remind us of our history and provide much richness to our surroundings. They are appreciated by residents and play an important role in attracting visitors to our city. If elected, will you champion support for our built heritage?

Yes
Historical buildings like Third Avenue United Church need to be saved as symbols of our heritage. We worked very closely with the University of Saskatchewan when the current administration building was saved. There are many buildings that have historical value and the City has actually created a list, which council approved with the owners’ consent.

Q4 Food: Food sovereignty is defined as “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.” Indigenous food sovereignty refers to a specific policy approach to addressing the underlying issues impacting Indigenous peoples and their ability to respond to their own needs for healthy, culturally adapted Indigenous foods. How can the City of Saskatoon contribute to Indigenous food sovereignty?

I think we need to have more community gardens where indigenous foods can be grown along with other larger tracks of land where indigenous food grows naturally.

Q5 Urban Planning: One of the goals of Saskatoon’s Strategic Plan (2013-2023) is “Sustainable Growth.” This includes planning for a healthy balance of greenfield and infill development – to grow the city inward and upward as well as outward. Responsible and strategic neighborhood infill would include consulting with the vulnerable populations affected, protecting existing affordable housing and heritage sites, and taking steps to limit sprawl and disparity in living conditions in new neighborhood developments. Do you support providing affordable housing to people living in core neighborhoods to minimize the social and economic displacement that could result from significant increases in infill development?

Yes
This absolutely critical. We also need to have affordable housing throughout the city. I championed construction of 2500 units over a five-year period. Despite this success, in the last council they reduced the number to 250 units per year. Lowering the bar serves no one well. Everyone needs a safe, secure, affordable and attainable housing to live in. This benefits everyone.

Q6 Urban Planning: Mandatory parking requirements have been shown to increase construction costs and decrease affordability of housing. Some cities — including Edmonton — have done away with parking minimums, to allow the market to decide how much parking to build. Do you support Saskatoon allowing the market to decide how much parking to include with new developments?

Yes
Who knows better than the developers of the property and the buyers? Parking stalls are expensive to create and add to the cost of either renting or purchasing a home. The auto industry and the public transportation industry are evolving; let the people wishing to live in a complex determine if there is sufficient parking – not City Council.

Q7 Urban Planning: The Meewasin Trail is one of Saskatoon’s outdoor recreation treasures, used daily by city residents and visitors for strolling, running, and cycling. Winding under bridges and linking parks and natural areas along both sides of the river, it runs more than 90 kms in length. If elected, will you support the Meewasin trail development plans currently in progress and look for ways to continue to sustain the trail network in Saskatoon?

It is a major attraction for the city. The trail is now part of our cultural and natural history. It gives people the opportunity to reconnect with nature and enjoy the tranquility. The MVA trail would connect also to the green and active corridor I am proposing which will go from the S.E. corner of Saskatoon to the west end at highways 7 and 14.

Q8 Urban Planning: Many Saskatoon neighbourhoods now have speed bumps on residential streets to slow drivers and reduce vehicle noise. Do you support the further expansion of speed bumps as a way to manage the negative effects of car traffic in Saskatoon?

There must be better ways. Emergency vehicles find this difficult at best. Given the noise pollution and safety issues, the residents living adjacent to these roadways deserve better. We cannot just default to the position nothing else can be done. I’m sure the residents will have some great ideas that require exploring so they too can enjoy Saskatoon.

Q9 Public Transportation: Saskatoon has invested significant resources in the development of a Bus Rapid Transit system as part of the City’s Growth Plan (2016). Planning is well underway for a high-frequency, direct bus service along the city’s major corridors and construction is scheduled to begin in 2022. The full system is expected to be in operation by June of 2025. Are you committed to maintaining the timeline to meet the 2025 completion date for the Bus Rapid Transit system?

The final cost will be in the $500 million range when it is completed. Until the rail tracks are moved it cannot be rapid. Currently it will take 10 minutes longer on the bus than in a vehicle to certain areas of the city. I believe we need to continue on the with High Frequency Service (buses on the main corridors coming approximately every five minutes). Expand the routes and use the first and last mile concept which gives you door-to door-service and takes the big buses off neighbourhood streets. One community has found this system to be highly successful.

Q10 Public Transportation: Other enhancements to Saskatoon Transit have been discussed that would make bus service more affordable, accessible, and reliable, while still minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. They include, for example, changes to the fare system, better connectivity, provisions for the poor and disabled, and improved communications. What are your priorities in further enhancing Saskatoon Transit to meet the needs of all people in Saskatoon?

Saskatoon Transit can become one of our greatest assets in the future. With the way technology is changing, it will play a critical role. We need to have more High Frequency Service and we need to get to the rist and last mile (door to door service) for everyone to use. By following this concept, the transit system has the potential to attract thousands of new riders. The new neighbourhoods are with minimal service and the first and last mile concept can be used as a pilot project to give them better service, as well as demonstrate how it could work throughout the city. We need to look at the fare system and the provisions for the poor and disabled. I have been involved with access transit and transit in the past, and I’m confident we can improve the system to benefit not only the general public, but also transit employees.

If elected, what will you do to ensure that these young people have access to safe, healthy activities/programs after school and in the evening?

This was part of my platform in 2016. Every child should have the opportunity to participate in sports and cultural activities. We need to have a recreational center in the historic areas of our city. There are many children in our city who do not have the resources in most cases to travel any distance. As in the past, I would ensure that the City work with various agencies and organizations involved with the health and well-being of youth. Partnering with service clubs, businesses and NGO’s is a powerful way to help youth succeed in life, and to inspire them to someday give back as well.

Would you support applying an age-friendly lens to all new policies and practices in Saskatoon to ensure the voices and needs of older adults are represented?

Yes

In fact, it has always been my policy to ensure that no citizen, regardless of their age, where they live, or who they are, should be excluded from policy considerations.

Do you support creating a tree protection bylaw for our city?

Yes

When you think of it,, trees have been an important contributor to the beauty and quality of life in Saskatoon, be it the naturally-occurring trees along the Meewasin or the trees planted throughout our neighbourhoods. We now know that trees are essential to the health of our planet as well, and can help reduce the carbon we as a city produce daily. I think the city it self should set a lofty goal of planting four trees for every person who lives in Saskatoon.

Do you support the development of a long-term strategy for ensuring that protection of trees is part of sustainable planning?

Yes

My reasoning is the same as provided for the previous question. I would add that the strategy for protection of trees also needs to consider what trees we plant in the future. We want trees that do not require watering once established, and that are suitable for prairie conditions and resistant to diseases that are prevalent here, such as the black knot disease that attacks Shubert cherry trees.

What measures would you support to ensure long term environmental protection for Saskatoon’s Northeast and Small Swales, and safety for animals and drivers, cyclists and pedestrians?

The Northeast swale should have the return of natural mammals such as buffalo, as well as other prairie flora and fauna. This would certainly be a true game changer. The effects of fencing in the National Parks should be looked at for the safety of the animals along with overpasses. I think having natural trails that are sensitive to the areas should be considered.

Do you support increasing investment in active transportation as one strategy for reducing the amount the City of Saskatoon spends on road maintenance costs?

Yes

I think we should have a green natural active corridor that goes from the SE area of Saskatoon going by Sutherland, the University, the historical neighbourhoods all the way out to highway 7 and 14 that connects to the MVA trails on both sides of the river. This would become a major attraction.

Do you support the City of Saskatoon investing in the necessary physical infrastructure to safely separate cycling traffic from both vehicular traffic and pedestrians?

Yes

We need to look at the areas where vehicles, pedestrians and cyclist come into conflict. I voted for the ATP in 2016 even though there are areas of concern raised by many. It is a good starting point.

Do you support Saskatoon passing a similar bylaw, which will ensure 24/7 access to public washrooms?

The city should not mandate businesses to open the washrooms to the public. The city has a responsibility to look after these needs.

Do you support the city committing long-term funding to implement the Low Emissions Community Plan?

I support the City doing its part in reducing GHG. I see at one time we were not to use paper bags or plastic, then it became no plastic but recyclable and with COVID some businesses do not allow recyclable bags but insist on paper. We need to continually adapt to the ever changing science on climate change.

What actions from the Low Emissions Community Plan would you prioritize to be implemented in your Ward or the City as a whole?