The City of Regina is pleased with the provincial government’s 5-stage plan to re-open Saskatchewan.

In a virtual press conference Thursday, Mayor Michael Fougere said that he is happy that the plan lays out certain date for the first two stages and bases the start of the next phases on the results of the first ones.

The Mayor added that the most important part of the province’s plan is the re-opening of golf courses, saying that other city facilities would most likely stay closed until phases 3 or 4.

Fougere stressed that even as the province is slowly opening back up again, social distancing and proper hygiene needs to continue.

“That practice has to remain in all these phases to keep us going further and not have to step back or pause,” said Fougere. “Just keep on working really hard to make sure we’re successful because we have flattened that curve.”

Fougere went on to say that he has no regrets with the approach the city took in trying to stop COVID-19, especially the decision to declare a local state of emergency.

“I make no apologies for the emergency order put through city council. I stand by that as being the desire of council and the community,” said Fougere. “The province very quickly after that brought in pretty much the same kind of sweeping exemptions they wanted, so we stand by it.”

The Mayor once again shared his pride in the people of Regina, and the province, on how quickly flattened the curve.

“It’s because of their actions alone that have made this possible,” said Fougere. “Hats off to Regina residents for doing such a great job, and I know as we open the economy slowly, that they will continue those best practices in the future because they know the more we follow those rules, the wider the economy opens up and the more activities can happen publicly.”