As 2019 begins to wind down, Regina’s mayor says it was a good year for the city.
Mayor Michael Fougere is satisfied with what took place this year in Regina, and he remains optimistic heading into 2020.
Fougere says council made many important decisions, such as finalizing the 2020 budget with a 3.25 per cent mill rate increase, and putting in body rub parlour zoning regulations.
During his year-end interview with 620 CKRM, Fougere says another important decision made by council was to pass rideshare regulations and bylaws.
“We want to be clear to our residents that we want Uber, Lyft, whoever is here as another tool to get around,” he shared. “It’s good competition to make sure we have the best service we can.”
While there were many concerns raised while council was trying to finalize rideshare regulations such as safety and a disastrous impact on taxi services, Fougere feels so far none of those concerns have come to fruition.
He also believes the city continues to grow thanks to a diverse economy.
“Companies are still growing even though we’re in somewhat challenging times and we’re one of the leaders in international immigration coming here,” he added.
“With a growing population and businesses expanding, we’re pointing in the right direction.”
The Queen City was able to hold some world-class events throughout the year, namely the Garth Brooks stadium shows and the 2019 NHL Heritage Classic.
As for the Heritage Classic, he admitted it was a once in a lifetime event for the city.
“I can’t picture a better atmosphere for the game itself. The place was full of people and there was a bit of snow to give ambiance too,” said Fougere. “I thought it was a picture-perfect opportunity.”
Some of the events Fougere says he’s looking forward to in the new year are the 50th anniversary of Agribition and the 2020 Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium.
