REGINA - It was far from smooth sailing at Executive Committee on Wednesday on whether to allow alcohol in Regina outdoor public parks.
However, in the end Executive Committee did vote 6-4 in favor of the recommendation from administration to allow alcohol in 12 public parks in the city, taking effect as of July 30.
The vote sends the issue to city council for further discussion and a final approval at the July 12 council meeting. But the discussion highlighted the range of concerns that council members had on the issue.
Among those who was a flat-out no was Councillor John Findura, who made the point that just because the province had approved alcohol in the parks, it didn’t mean they had to.
He said he had been getting emails and texts from people expressing concern about the safety of children and the community. He pointed to graffiti, needles in the parks, and the need for more lighting in the parks.
“We have more issues and more things that we should be looking into or looking after than creating more problems,” said Findura, who said they had “better things to look after and deal with.”
Councillor Terina Nelson also voiced her opposition, pointing to opposition from residents of her own ward who did not want Regent Park, located in her ward, to be included as one of the 12 parks. She questioned what good would come of alcohol in the parks.
“I don’t see a benefit coming from drinking in the park. If you can’t go to a park with your children and not drink, maybe there’s a problem.”
Councillors Shanon Zachidniak and Lori Bresciani also voted no, with both raising concerns the public hadn’t been adequately consulted on the issue. There were also concerns raised about the $27,000 cost for the signage and garbage receptacles to be added.
On the other side were those supporting the changes, including Councillor Bob Hawkins. He called the alcohol in parks a “limited program” that can be stopped quickly if problems develop, and also pointed to Regina Police Service not voicing concerns about it
“I’m not someone who believes that the heavy hand of government regulation should be used to unnecessarily restrict the freedom of Regina residents to enjoy themselves responsibly,” Hawkins said. Hawkins added he was “not impressed by the ‘parade of horribles’ we have heard this morning.”
In the middle were a few councillors who had various other concerns, including about the specific park locations that were initially proposed by administration. The parks initially slated to allow alcohol consumption are Central Park, Horizon Station Park, Les Sherman Park, Rotary Park, Grassick Park, Kiwanis Park, QE Jubilee Park, Stewart Russell Park, Hopson Park, Lakewood Park, Regent Park, and Tutor Park.
An amendment was later passed at the meeting which would see council direct Administration to prepare a supplemental report for the July 12 meeting that identifies the 12 designated parks, upon consultation with members of Council by no later than 4 p.m., July 6, 2023. What this provides for is for feedback from councillors on the 12 designated park locations and to allow for any potential changes to locations based on that.
In speaking to reporters, Mayor Sandra Masters acknowledged the concerns that were raised by council members were “based on feedback they are hearing from residents, just the concerns in general with the irresponsible use of alcohol.”
But the mayor also pointed to other municipalities in Canada which allowed alcohol in public parks and didn’t see problems. Masters acknowledged the sentiment from councillors seemed to be towards allowing alcohol in public parks during the summer, and then to see how it went.
Masters said the vote Wednesday reflected the idea of “let’s try it for the balance of the summer, from July 31 forward, let’s try this and get some feedback at a bit more innovative engagement than just public opinion surveys, and get that back in and assess it in the fall.”
Masters also expects more public feedback and awareness raised now that the issue has come up at Executive Committee. “The feedback I suspect will increase over the next week, we’ll see where that lands us next Wednesday.”
