TERRY HOKNES concerns in Saskatoon

www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com

HOMELESSNESS
The issue of homelessness is increasing everywhere. We have an estimated 800 homeless people in Saskatoon. We need to come up with a system that deals with all 800 people fast and helps each one of them get on a path to improving their lives. We need to collect information on each person and come up with what is best for each individual. I believe in the Housing First approach for those who have come upon hard times but can easily be part of regular society again including individuals and families. City owned properties that are unused or vacant/boarded up residential houses is a start for new affordable homes. We desperately need new communities established - such models have been designed with either “tiny houses”, town houses, modular shelters or other small community areas.
The tiny village plan in Los Angeles could be an affordable plan to be built quickly in Saskatoon next year. More info on that design at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8odsD2A1FE 
There are so many affordable prefabricated houses that could be purchased online or designed locally. For example there is a really nice basic design priced at only $9,500.00 US funds per house. On amazon.ca search for: Zolyndo-Portable-Prefabricated-Expandable-Warehouse. If the city would choose some lots quickly and get utilities prepared these houses could be ready for Christmas.
Another great example is the Anovoal-Foldable-Container-Stainless-Storage listed at amazon.ca for $20,000.00 which comes with a 2nd level and a roof top balcony. These types of plans need to be studied to see what extra costs would be required to add furnaces, winterizing etc. Can we come up with a design locally and have them made locally that addresses all issues. Tiny houses are not legal throughout Saskatoon so an area needs to be chosen and zoning and laws changed to allow them.
Rules, laws and info on Tiny homes in Saskatchewan can be found at: https://tinylife.ca/saskatchewan/ 

For those who have mental issues and/or addictions they need to be addressed in a way that is best and safest for them. I would like to see a complete Health Care facility established that includes shelter, bed, food, showers, laundry, community space, treatment programs, job training, finance training, a gym, other educational courses, support groups, counselors, social workers, visitor area and outdoor park area.
As an example: Portland, Maine has the best design I have seen in North America. More on that location:
52K square feet, one storey, finished in 11 months, 208 beds, health and dental clinic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yksf5s4DapU 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ_GtGKDvLU 
My suggestion is to construct a new massive building. I want to know if the city owns any land somewhere on the outskirts where this facility could be built. Perhaps in the furthest north end of the North Industrial area, or perhaps north east of the Chief Mistawasis bridge or perhaps purchasing an acreage or two south of the city. We need safety for the homeless and also for the general public. We need to remove those who are “living” on streets and alleys and bring them to the shelter to help get them started on improving. A shelter van could easily go back and forth to the downtown to transport those who have appointments. Saskatoon needs a facility that can help those who have not been able to help themselves. Saskatoon is a caring community and we want to take care of our own. No limitations should be put on this massive urgent issue which is the #1 concern of almost everyone I have spoken to in the city. No more talking or delaying or doing things second rate on a low budget. Let’s face this epidemic and make Saskatoon a safe and healthy city. We want to help them improve their lives. All citizens deserve to have safe neighborhoods. Shelters should never be in residential areas or even downtown. Families, children and businesses need to know they are safe. We need all levels of government to team up and step up on this issue. This Health Care facility plan will take over a year to put into effect.

In the meantime winter is coming with 6 months of cold weather. We should not have a shelter downtown but now its been approved and it is all we have. So lets make the best of it until we can build the Health Care Centre. I believe street laws should be stricter that nobody can just hang around on the streets at night with a possible curfew and that police should assist those on the street to a homeless shelter OR a warming shelter. I believe we should have a few places downtown that the homeless can gather that are heated so that they can safely survive the night. I think a few pop up locations should be installed in the downtown and Riversdale areas. If we are short on time to prepare even putting up giant tents or small structures that are heated inside could help up to 50 people each. Perhaps an agreement could be made between the city and Impark to put up these warming tents in the corners of some parking lots that are barely used at night. For indoors it would be nice to find more churches or halls that could let people stay inside with security inside and outside.

I recently visited a homeless area in Vancouver. I saw young girls on the street that had nothing. I saw men shooting up literally while traffic drove by. I saw people so “stoned” that they were sleeping standing up. I saw the neighborhood “destroyed” and unsafe. If the homeless issues grows here, it will permanently damage the downtown and other neighborhoods. If the downtown becomes more unsafe businesses will stop renewing leases causing vacancies in the downtown. Over time the downtown will become more deserted and then there is no hope for the downtown entertainment district to succeed and the economy will take a downturn. Let’s show our compassion and take this on 100% priority.

These are some of my ideas which need to be discussed further and I want to hear from you
I AM LISTENING ! www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com

HEALTHY & INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
More than ever our city is rich of citizens of various backgrounds. We want a city that is safe for all. Everyone should feel equal and respected. I would like to see an event held weekly that would showcase one specific ethnic or minority group. We want to encourage a large group of the general public to learn more about them having a presentation, a supper, perhaps music and dance, and a gathering point for people to meet and be introduced to new information relating to the particular group of the week. I would like to see a regular gathering for all of us to be educated about Indigenous culture, history and challenges. Each group could promote and educate about their associations, traditions, beliefs and challenges. This would include all types of groups such as: Disability groups, seniors, the 2SLGBTQIA+, unemployed, veterans, different ethnic groups such as: Middle Eastern, Latin American, African etc. Think of it as a weekly Folk fest with one focus pavilion at a time. Cultural identity needs to be seen as an asset. The more we understand the challenges of various groups and their uniqueness, the more we can be accepting and welcoming of each other.
Every person living in Saskatoon needs to have access to health care in a timely manner. We need to do so much more with our hospitals and health care facilities and take care of our nurses. We have many great organizations to help people but I feel that when many come upon hard times its hard to know how to find the help. We need to have a collected list of the 1000 organizations in this city as a map for all to use especially those new to our city. We need to promote our cities future visions in a way that everyone can be informed. So everyone can have a say in what we do for future development and not just blindly accept what city council throws at people without any say. Cities are made by people for the people.

TRANSPORTATION & CLIMATE CHANGE
Residential house power, heating and cooling is responsible for a massive 42% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. We need more education to the public to understand our year 2050 goals. We need to make it clear what resources are available and motivate home owners to renovate their homes with energy efficiency upgrades. This is good news as it would decrease the carbon footprint of individual houses but also save money in utility bills. There will be millions in savings in the future for the city. Lets plant more trees and take care of our green zones. The Saskatoon website has environmental initiatives with tips to help home owners get on the right track.

We need more electric buses. Transit needs to become a priority. City buses need improved hours and more routes, safety for bus drivers and passengers, easier access at pickup points, cut out ramps so buses can pull off a main street for safety and also to prevent halting traffic in that lane. We need wheelchair ramps and safer intersections. Upgrading transit could be paid by many more bus advertisements. We need a 2nd bus mall - this would improve bus frequency and more connections. We need a consistent design for Bicycle paths. More crossing timers at intersections for better awareness for both drivers and pedestrians to know when its safe to cross and for how long.

Densification will save the city on infrastructure costs. I have joined the Saskatoon Climate Hub and also StrongTowns which are groups working on the improvement and health of our city. The city has a 40 step plan for lowering emissions in the city in the future. We need to move forward and do all we can on each step to help fight climate change.

FINANCIAL ISSUES
Nobody likes paying taxes especially raised taxes. Lets get back to basics. Infrastructure is most essential and should always be put as priority. We need more road repairs, faster snow removal, reliable sewers. The budget should focus on those. Other essentials are police and safety, public transportation, health care and a much needed facility to address the homeless. Lets create a budget that deals with the things we must have and take a break from hefty spending on extras. This is the wrong time to be spending on frivolous projects. Let’s build a healthy city and get us back on track as the greatest city to live in in Canada. We should not be using debt to finance projects. We need to bring more revenue into the city to help cover rising costs such as more festivals, events and work on making Saskatoon a better tourist attraction. I mentioned earlier about a weekly event to showcase ethnic and minority groups. Lets make this a big event that continually draws others from outside our province to attend. Lets make Saskatoon a leader in culture and arts and lets invest in our community.

 

DEED- DOWNTOWN PLAN - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Downtown Arena and district plan has been approved by city council as of September 2024. There should have been a referendum on this topic and other major issues or have major discussions on the Saskatoon website that allows regular polls to get comments from the public. Former Mayor Henry Dayday once said that voter turnout is always higher when people can participate. It seems unfair that city council just makes decisions on behalf of 300,000 people without letting the mass public have a say. There should be a referendum on major issues in future elections. The community should have a say in what they have to pay for.

There are so many issues that still need to be addressed. I have spoken to hundreds of people and it was overwhelmingly against building it. Does city council have confirmed funds from the provincial and federal government to cover a 1/3 of the cost each (approx $400 million each)? Without their assistance our city cannot possibly afford this venue on its own. Even paying just 1/3 of the cost for a project that is going to cost over $1.2 billion is going to be a major task. And we all know it will land up costing even more than the estimate. Council said the funds would not be raised through property taxes. Therefore the funds will be raised by the general public at a great cost of adding hefty taxes on ticket sales etc. It has been said that we desperately need a new building with higher ceilings for future major concerts. I have not heard of what major concerts we would be missing without it. Most concerts do not sell out at our current arena in the north end. The plan is to make the new downtown Arena only 10% bigger. So there is no plan to even attract bigger audiences but rather just attract possibly a few extra concerts a year. This is a major cost for the potential to bring in 2 major concerts. Do any of the sports games at Sasktel Centre sell out?

The idea of an upgrade and beautification is a noble idea which I am all for. But I believe this is the wrong time. We have social and safety issues to deal with first. It seems selfish to put the focus of our budget into materialistic wants rather than social needs. Police on the street have said in interviews that as long as there is still crime downtown out of hand the Arena is not safe. The downtown plan includes 2 brand new parks both near the new Homeless Shelter at 23rd Street. I do not see these parks being comfortable for the general public and families to use with the Shelter next door. We need to do things in an order that make sense. Let’s remove the homeless from downtown, then clean up the crime and then talk about beautification of our downtown. I realize that delaying this project will cost even more but let‘s make sure we really need it first. I think until Sasktel Centre is reaching the end of its life as a safe building we are attempting to spend a vast amount of money foolishly. Let’s focus our budget on essential services that are needed by 100% of the community including road repairs, snow removal, affordable housing, health care facility, transit safety and reliability and more police patrolling and more street lighting in higher crime areas. This summer I received comments from 400 people on the pro’s and con’s of the Arena downtown. This vast list shows everyone’s concerns and thoughts.
PRO’S
Helps boost the economy / economic spin-offs
Attract tourists
Boost nightlife downtown
Attract bigger concerts
Be comparable and competitive with other cities
More convenient for people
New, modern and up to date
Anchor of the new renovated downtown
Restaurants, pubs and hotels will prosper
Residences downtown can walk to events
Bring people downtown
Many major cities choose to build downtown for the people rather than traveling out of city
A city striving to be more green making it accessible for pedestrians is necessary
Only one bus travels up to SaskTel center but many buses all meet downtown
Advertises our city to the rest of the country
CON’S
The cost - who is paying for it?
Wrong economy for such a massive project
Tax dollars needs to be spent on the homeless, crime, roads, general services
Accessibility - how do you get there? Where do you park?
Parking a car and then riding a bus downtown and then back again
Traffic congestion / overcrowding
Fear of affecting Heritage buildings downtown
Crime not dealt with making it unsafe to be downtown
Homeless, police and ambulances in the area
Higher ticket prices and taxes to pay for the building
Takes away valuable Midtown Plaza parking lot
Current transit system cannot support this amount of people
BRT cannot possibly transfer that many people in time
Getting off buses and out of cars and taxis - where do you go?
Have to pay for parking downtown
The noise levels for downtown residents
Will a downtown building really bring more fans to hockey games?
What will happen to Sasktel Centre? Costs ? Waste of a building and doubling up on venue?
How do we get emergency vehicles to the building fast and safely?
How do emergency vehicles travel down Idylwyld, 22nd Street etc if there are thousands of cars in traffic coming and going from the show all at once?
Downtown is not built to support 17,000 people at once
How backed up will traffic be downtown when road is shut down for a train passing by ?
How do the elderly safely get to and from the building in mass quantity ?
If the city had its way to have everyone take the bus how could you possibly have 17,000 people all get on the bus at the same time when the event ends? How long would it take to get everyone home !!!
Where do the 20 semi-trucks go to get in and park and be able to load in gear for concerts?
How will the police be in the area to help move pedestrians and traffic for these concerts?
No referendum for public to even have a say on this
Is it being built to still be competitive 30 years from now or will the standards have changed yet again ?
The population of Saskatoon has doubled since Saskplace opened in 1988 and yet we are spending a billion to only increase size by 10%
This will still never bring us an NHL team or a Taylor Swift concert !
What happened to the Imagine Idylwyld project planned to increase traffic flow? It’s still not enough !
Will people pay more money for Blades and sports events through taxes to pay for the building ?
We had this debate in the 1980s and people did not want it then for the same reasons as now

I am all for rejuvenating the downtown. We want a healthy business section and a rejuvenated night life downtown. But we cannot possibly have that until the homeless and crime issues are dealt with. Let’s spend the next 4 years fixing and improving the city with essential services. Four years from now hopefully we will be ready for upgrading our cities beautification and the cultural/entertainment issues.

DENSIFICATION & TRANSIT
Densification is a great idea in general. However, I represent some of the oldest neighborhoods in Saskatoon. The majority of those I have spoken with in older neighborhoods do NOT want 4 plexes and cheap rental properties on their block. We do not want to drastically change the character of older neighborhoods that have been established over the last 115 years. A possible suggestion would be that proposals can be made and everyone on that block has a say/vote on the proposal. Possibly there could be a limit set per block of only 1 or 2 new developments in these particular areas. Everyone is concerned about over population on their block, lack of parking, potentially hurting property values, and sewer/utility issues.

I would suggest new apartments close to the other established apartments near the University to help more students. There are lots of empty vacant spots or unused parking spaces in the downtown between 24th and 28th Streets. The new DEED downtown plan wants two parks right downtown but I think that land might be more valuable to be developed with affordable apartments which again would be helpful for University students and those who work downtown. More apartments downtown would also encourage demand for a new grocery store. Another possible suggestion is on the roughest streets where many lots are vacant or boarded up could be between 19th and 22nd Streets along Avenue C to Avenue W. This might help boost these areas with a sense of the residential blocks “starting over”. The easiest place for 4-plexes and apartments should be in the new subdivisions being developed so that streets can be done correctly rather than trying to change 100 year old streets. In general we also need rent control measures to help protect renters from major increases in fees.

City buses need improved hours, more routes, more buses, safety for bus drivers and passengers, air conditioning, easier access at pickup points, cut out ramps so buses can pull off a main street for safety and also to prevent halting traffic in that lane. We need wheelchair ramps and safer intersections. Upgrading transit could be paid by many more bus advertisements.

We need a consistent formula and design for Bicycle paths especially downtown. I would like to see a study about moving buses and bike lanes one block off the main roads for safety and more space and less vehicle traffic (Examples include moving buses/bike from 22nd to 23rd, 20th to 19th St, 8th to 7th Street, Broadway to Lansdowne etc). More timer crossings at intersections for better awareness for both drivers and pedestrians to know when its safe to cross and for how long. The 23rd Bus Mall is congested with buses. We need a 2nd bus mall - this would improve bus frequency and more connections. I plan to be in consistent conversations with each of the subdivisions in my ward to get more localized ideas.

These are some of my ideas which need to be discussed further and I want to hear from you
I AM LISTENING ! www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com

HOUSING IN SASKATOON
Population growth and a lack of housing has caused major problems including rental prices continually rising. The city no longer wants to build outwards but rather up. We need to strategically discuss each area where it makes sense to add new apartments, condos, 4plexes and have stricter sustainability requirements. Houses in older neighborhoods should be encouraged to upgrade their heating and cooling systems as well as newer windows, doors and insulation. In the long run the home owners will save money as well as helping lower emissions. Lets plant more trees and take care of our green zones. We need to educate everyone more about diseases affecting trees and what we can do to prevent this. We need to recommend green roofs, solar panels and more community gardens.
There is a great program called HELP (Home Energy Loan Program). It was designed to improve energy efficiency, reducing water and installing renewable energy by offering low interest loans. This covers the costs of the improvements. Loans are available between $1,000 and $60,000 in the city.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/environmental-initiatives/energy-water/home-energy-loan-program-help
We need to further study and learn from the city of Copenhagen which is amazingly becoming the first carbon neutral city by 2025.
https://www.spur.org/news/2022-08-31/sustainable-city-learning-copenhagens-plan-zero-carbon 

These are some of my ideas which need to be discussed further and I want to hear from you
I AM LISTENING ! www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com


EMISSIONS
Residential house power, heating and cooling is responsible for a massive 42% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. We need more general education to the public and students in schools to prepare them with good habits for the next generation in line with our year 2050 goals. We need to make it clear what resources are available and motivate home owners to renovate their homes with energy efficiency upgrades. This is good news as it would decrease the carbon footprint of individual houses but also save money in utility bills. It is estimated that there will be billions in savings in the future for the city. We also need the city and businesses to do their part. Lets plant more trees and take care of our green zones. City should encourage everyone to plant their own gardens to grow food and share with neighbors.
Learn more at these city website links for an overview and tips to help home owners get on the right track.
https://www.saskatoon.ca/environmental-initiatives/climate-change/targets-and-progress 
www.Saskatoon.ca/RenoResources 
https://www.saskatoon.ca/environmental-initiatives/energy-water/home-energy-loan-program-help 

These are some of my ideas which need to be discussed further and I want to hear from you
I AM LISTENING ! www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com

New FREEWAY & SWALE area problems
The provincial government has planned a ring road to go all the way around the outskirts of the city. This amazing plan is not likely to happen for 15 years. In the North East just out of Saskatoon are a few swale areas. They are going to be hit directly by the planned freeway. There is no way to go around it in the NE part of the city unless we extend it closer to Warman which is not practical. The Northeast Swale is a huge area which is 3x wider than our river. I do not believe we should change or destroy the swale. I am curious if the freeway can be built above ground in the swale areas untouching the land itself. The concern is the cost and practicality of building above ground for such a long distance at 3x the width of our river. The Northeast Swale is a post-glacial channel scar that contains remnant native grasslands and natural wetlands located in the northeastern area of Saskatoon. The Northeast Swale is approximately 26 km long, spanning from Peturrson’s Ravine to north of the Clarkboro Ferry and is regarded as a unique environment having ecological, hydrological and hydro-geological characteristics. You can find the map of the area at the Saskatoon Freeway website: https://saskatoonfreeway.org/map/ 

These are some of my ideas which need to be discussed further and I want to hear from you
I AM LISTENING ! www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com

CULTURAL & HEALTH ISSUES
Whether your family moved here last week or 100 years ago we all want to feel valued and part of the greater community. I would like to see the general public better informed on different minority groups and bring better understanding to the things that make us different and unique. I would like to see a weekly event held in 2 set locations in the city - one on each side of the river. Each event would showcase one specific ethnic or minority group. The general public would be invited to learn more about them having speakers, a presentation, a supper, perhaps music/dance, and a gathering point for people to meet and be introduced to new information relating to the particular group of the week. I would like to see a regular gathering for all of us to be educated about Indigenous culture, history and challenges. Each group could promote and educate about their associations, traditions, beliefs and challenges. This would include all types of groups such as: Disability groups, seniors groups, 2SLGBTQIA+, unemployed, veterans, different ethnic groups such as: Indigenous, Middle Eastern, Latin American, African etc. The People Bridge Advocacy group has done these types of amazing events but I would like to see this become a full time regular event. Smaller events could be held at the brand new downtown Library. Larger scale events could be held in churches, school gymnasiums, leisure centers, halls etc and hopefully these facilities would donate the space. In a sense you could think of it as a weekly Folk fest with one focus pavilion at a time.

These are some of my ideas which need to be discussed further and I want to hear from you
I AM LISTENING ! www.TerryHoknes.com  (306) 270-9387 hoknes@hotmail.com

HOMELESSNESS & HOUSING
The homeless have doubled this year alone. For the poor who cannot find a place to rent we need to get them into homes immediately. Some of the best options are taking over city owned or abandoned properties in the city. Tiny houses or modular shelters is the most economical but we need them fast. Nobody should be sleeping on the streets.

For those who have mental issues and/or addictions I would like to see a complete Health Care facility that includes shelter, beds, food, showers, laundry, treatment programs, job & finance training and other educational courses, support groups, counselors and social workers, community spaces and a fenced outdoor park area. Part of the building would be for those who want to get cleaned up and quit. Another part of the building will be for those who continue their addiction but can be monitored and helped over time. Portland, Maine has the best design I have seen in North America. 52K square feet, finished in 11 months with 200 beds. The Alberta model also has a fairly similar idea. Learn more on you tube. Where does the city own land? Perhaps in the north west or east. I like the idea of purchasing an acreage south of the city.

All citizens deserve to have safe neighborhoods. Shelters should never be in residential areas or even downtown. Families, children and businesses need to know they are safe. We need all levels of government to team up and step up on this issue. I don’t want a shelter downtown but lets make the best of it this winter. I believe a curfew should be set and police assist those on the street to a homeless shelter OR a warming shelter. If the downtown declines it will hurt businesses and the economy and the downtown entertainment district will fail. Let’s show our compassion and take this on 100% priority. I have so much more to say on this topic. Please go to my website TerryHoknes.com

POLICE & CRIME
1) There has been a surge in violent crime across Saskatoon recently with homicide numbers climbing steadily and gun violence becoming more prevalent, overwhelming police resources. What do you propose be done to address this issue?
I am running for city council because safety is my #1 concern. We need to reduce crime and violence in our city. Make our population safe again which will bring prosperity back to our city. I believe what we need to do is focus on reducing opportunities for crime. I want to suggest the police department using RTM (Risk Terrain Modeling). This amazing system analyzes places rather than people to diagnose environmental conditions that lead to crime (and other problems). https://www.riskterrainmodeling.com/
The goal is to predict areas where crime is more likely to happen. Police can monitor this area more. The areas can also then be targeted in positive ways. Such examples I’ve seen include using billboards, signs, advertising to promote links to community events, sports programs, other educational services targeted at troubled youth who for example might hang out late at night near a confectionary or gas station. Cleaning up that area in general - getting more residents watching over their street. I would like to see the city put in many more street lights to “brighten up’ dangerous dark areas/streets at night. I believe that a curfew of perhaps 10pm should be set to reduce majority of people just “hanging out“ on streets. I would like to see more free services and help given to those in lower income neighborhoods. I would like to see weekly free meetings to the public (many aimed more at teens) where people can come listen and discuss issues such as parental abuse and domestic violence, substance abuse, rape, gangs, crime, safety in their neighborhoods. Encourage the public to just come in and listen - get advice, tips, hear some stories from those who have faced challenges but got help. A lot of crime is caused by those who feel “invisible” in society and get lost in the cracks. Teaming up with schools to learn about students that have poorer grades, social issues, trouble at home to try and help or give assistance before a crime does happen. Could the police offer some cash incentives for leads on gun possession or news of planned crimes, gangs etc?

2. Patrol officers have an ever-increasing call load related to supportive housing facilities and homelessness. What do you propose should be done?
First of all the homeless need to be helped immediately in a way that we can give them all shelter and a place to get the assistance they need. I desperately want Saskatoon to build a complete health care facility needed for those with addictions or mental issues that includes shelter, bed, food, showers, laundry, community space, treatment programs, job/finance educational/training courses, support groups, social workers, visitor area and outdoor park area. Portland Health Centre has the best design at 52K sq feet & 208 beds. Check on youtube. Where does the city own land on the outskirts? Perhaps purchasing an acreage south of the city! Remove those who are “living” on streets and alleys and bring them to the Facility.
Darren Hill running for Ward 1 suggested that if the city owns the lot immediately west of the main police station that it could be a great place to build a Health Care Facility and shelter - the location would of course be extremely handy having police resources right next door. This could also contain the Safe Consumption site so that we can remove it from within residential neighborhoods.
I am pushing to get a new facility even further away from the general public (suggesting possibly far North industrial OR acreage south of city) but I do like the idea of police being very close on hand - I think the buildings been next to each other can save on a ton of travel costs and therefore saving lots of $$$$. My only concerns is if it is enough land for the building that will have enough room for a shelter, plus safe consumption area and also other social services / training courses / support groups and counselors - perhaps 2 storey building? How fast can we approve and build !!
SFD reported in May 2024 that there were 114 encampments from January to May 2023 and 255 in the same period in early 2024. We need to help take care of all those who need help that are now spread out all over the city. Bring those in need to the Facility then we can reduce the number of patrol officers who have to deal with this specifically. I had mentioned about a potential curfew in the city (possibly 10pm) and therefore the only task left for police would be to bring any homeless people to the facility. This would be done for their safety so they do not freeze at night in the winter but also clean up streets so other residents can feel safe as well. Not only is the goal to be more efficient but we are already spending lots continually on police, ambulances etc. The police could be spending their budget on other needs.
I have also suggested Tiny Homes or modular homes as a cheaper efficient way to give immediate homes for those who are ready to live on their own but are currently on the streets due to lack of money, or job or references for an apartment. This would require less police involvement and would lower expenses by having people off the street and in one area rather than spread randomly throughout the city.

3. What is your opinion on how safe consumption sites impact communities as a whole?
There is a massive amount of people who do not approve of safe consumption sites and I am here to listen to the people. I do realize it has a role so I’m willing to support safe consumption sites however I would like to see it happen only at shelters and my proposed new Health Care facility. I think its dangerous and unpredictable to let people be gathered on the streets in a drugged up state. I do believe its very tough for the general public who live close to the one on 20th Street and Avenue P. Even Canada Post workers said they did not feel safe delivering mail on that block. I would like to see safe consumption sites moved away from our citizens and make our streets safe again.

4 What is your response to those who believe that placing unelected people on municipal police boards is improper and an abdication of responsibility by the elected counselors?
I believe that what matters is that we have caring individuals that take issues seriously and give it 100% whether they are unelected or elected. I would take pride on being on the municipal police board in either capacity. If the police department has a preference than their wishes need to happen. There is crime rising in so many areas in our city and we need to trust what the police boards feel will have a better outcome.

5. Why should police officers vote for you?
I appreciate the dedication and risks that the police take on a daily basis. I am passionate about the safety of all citizens. I am passionate also about giving the homeless a chance to achieve a better life. I care about safe streets throughout the city. It is important that we are not overworking and stressing police officers and health care workers. I have lived in Saskatoon my entire life and have seen my city decline. It is very hard for neighborhoods to ever rejuvenate from rising crime. I want to work full time on this issue along with the police department, social services and the city to make our city great again. I want more communication between the police and the public to work together to have more voices and ideas heard.

SASKATOON PRIDE - 2SWLGBTQIA+
1) What do you feel makes you the ideal candidate to represent your ward?
As a Saskatoon historian I care about the oldest heritage buildings and neighborhoods in the city. I am a very empathic person and care #1 about the safety of everyone in the city and helping the homeless and reducing crime. I also promote the equality of every citizen no matter who you are including all ethnic and minority groups.

2) What do you see as the most pressing issues in your ward and in our city?
Safety and health for all.

3) Does your platform include an inclusion policy? Does that policy include the 2SLGBTQIA+ community?
HEALTHY & INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
More than ever our city is rich of citizens of various backgrounds. We want a city that is safe for all. Everyone should feel equal and respected. I would like to see an event held weekly that would showcase one specific ethnic or minority group. We want to encourage a large group of the general public to learn more about them having a presentation, a supper, perhaps music and dance, and a gathering point for people to meet and be introduced to new information relating to the particular group of the week. I would like to see a regular gathering for all of us to be educated about Indigenous culture, history and challenges. Each group could promote and educate about their associations, traditions, beliefs and challenges. This would include all types of groups such as: Disability groups, seniors, the 2SLGBTQIA+, unemployed, veterans, different ethnic groups such as: Middle Eastern, Latin American, African etc. Think of it as a weekly Folk fest with one focus pavilion at a time. Cultural identity needs to be seen as an asset. The more we understand the challenges of various groups and their uniqueness, the more we can be accepting and welcoming of each other.
Every person living in Saskatoon needs to have access to health care in a timely manner. We need to do so much more with our hospitals and health care facilities and take care of our nurses. We have many great organizations to help people but I feel that when many come upon hard times its hard to know how to find the help. We need to have a collected list of the 1000 organizations in this city as a map for all to use especially those new to our city. We need to promote our cities future visions in a way that everyone can be informed. So everyone can have a say in what we do for future development and not just blindly accept what city council throws at people without any say. Cities are made by people for the people.

4) Given the rise of hate, what measures would you take to defend and advance the rights, freedoms and fulsome equality of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in our city?
Education is important. The rise of hate I believe is totally in line with the general public still not understanding so many issues. I listen to my son, age 18, who was in the GSA. He educates me on numerous issues - but the majority of adults especially over 50 do not have this luxury of being informed and updated to understand the needs and frustrations in the community. I would like to see more events, courses, presentations made that the general public can become more aware of issues. Most adults only hear what the news tells them. This only reinforces negative stigma. I would be happy to work with Saskatoon Pride and similar organizations regularly on an opportunity to spread much needed education.

5) What is your stance on the city's current policy regarding public washroom and change room use for transgender individuals? Would you support the expansion of gender neutral facilities, particularly within any new municipal buildings?
Scott Moe's decision this week is so backwards and prehistoric thinking. The point is we need to make those affected by this the ones who decide what is comfortable and safe. Moe is simply trying to get votes by appealing to the percent of the general public who don't understand the needs and concerns of Transgender individuals. New buildings definitely need to recognize the needs of all. Individual private stalls would solve all mentioned issues. Everyone deserves privacy and safety.

6) Would you publicly denounce the provincial government's use of the Notwithstanding clause and the implementation of Bill 137 as well as any future provincial attempts to jeopardize the safety and happiness of transgender and non-binary youth? Why or why not?
If you need a law to make the children trust their parents you should be worrying about the parents. If a child seriously considers taking their life as an easier option than telling their parents then we need to draw the line. This has happened. Most schools have a GSA which could be a useful tool for nervous students to reach out for help in talking to their parents. Bill 137 does not take into consideration all the negative and unique situations each child faces with adults in the home. I denounce Bill 137. The goal should never be addressing a safety concern by creating another safety concern.

7) Why do you believe 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals in Saskatoon should give you their support?
Every human is equal. Everyone deserves respect, understanding, a voice. I will do everything I can to bring more awareness and education to the general public. I feel empathy to all the challenges that individuals have faced and want to help.

MUSICIANS UNION
1) Would you support a change in municipal policy that supports professional musicians by making it mandatory for city-council appointed boards to have a signed agreement with the Saskatoon Musicians
Association setting out the minimum pay scale rates and terms before an event permit is issued?

It is reasonable in any occupation that if hired for an event that a paid fee amount be set that is at least at the minimum pay scale rate. Just like plumbers or any other occupation musicians and entertainers need a reasonable guaranteed pay. It is important to remember that musicians usually also provide their own equipment, instruments and travel costs and that they deserve a decent pay and not less than the set musician union minimums. In fact the minimum pay scale for musicians is actually dropping year by year due to inflation and musicians now make less money than they have been paid in any past decade.

2) Would you support a discount in business tax for live music venues who have an agreement signed with the Saskatoon Musicians Association?
The majority of musicians used to make a living performing in restaurants and night clubs. Not only has pay not increased against inflation but the number of venues and the number of events/dates has dropped continually for 30 years. A discount in business tax gives a break on live music venues which is a plus. This will encourage more venues to go back to having live musicians performing. The goal of the new DEED Downtown entertainment district desperately needs more live music. This would give an opportunity to build a healthy nightlife vibe downtown especially. Currently in Saskatoon there is approx 4 venues in the city that hire musicians more than 1 night per week and likely about 6 more that hire for 1 night only. That is a total of 10 venues in total that musicians can be hired on a regular basis. Compare that with my chart below I made of the 10 busiest weeks (restaurants and nightclubs) for musicians in the history of Saskatoon. During the week of April 29 1994 there were 25 venues that hired musicians (solo,duo,groups) for more than 1 night per week and 5 more venues that hired one night for a total of 30 venues with live entertainment. Continually since 1994 the numbers have been dropping. There are 2 issues that really stand out. Some of those venues would hire musicians up to 6 nights per week. Now 2 nights a week is the maximum at any venue in the city. The second most shocking point is that the population in 1994 was only ½ of what it is now. If live music had stayed on the path of those 1994 stats then the 30 venues should now be double at 60 but now we are down to approximately 10. This means that musicians are only hired at a ratio of 1/6 of the public as compared to 1994. Many musicians used to make a living as a performer as their main occupation. 95% of musicians in the last 30 years have to resort to non-musical jobs as their “real career”. Not only does this hurt the opportunities to entertain and focus on your talent but gives no influence to younger generations who are not getting the live music experience to continue the tradition. Upcoming bands have almost no opportunity to perform in public and actually get paid anything at all. We need more venues hiring musicians and a guaranteed reasonable pay to bring health to the local live music community.

Top 10 weeks in Saskatoon for most venues with live music: (full time venues/one night venues/date/total)
25/5 Apr 29 1994 30
20/7 jan 21 1994 27
25/1 Jun 24 1994 26
21/5 Nov 19 1993 26
21/5 Feb 12 1993 26
22/3 May 27 1993 25
24/0 Mar 1 1991 24
24/0 Jan 17 1992 24
22/2 Jun 18 1993 24
22/2 Apr 8 1994 24

BIOGRAPHY

Terry is possibly the most passionate person promoting Saskatoon pride. He wants to improve the quality and safety of Saskatoon. Terry Hoknes runs the Saskatoon History Project and has spent 20,000 hours so far indexing the entire history of Saskatoon news over the past 140 years and educating over 17,000 followers online. He has indexed over 100,000 articles in the last 7 years and has so far written 40 different books about Saskatoon. Terry has entertained at over 2,000 music concerts in the last 42 years in the province and around the world. He is on the Saskatoon Heritage Society board for 6 years as well as other groups. Terry and his family have lived in Saskatoon since 1911 running the local family business Walters Cycle Co for 76 years downtown. Learn about all his opinions and ideas at TerryHoknes.com.
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What is happening in our city that MUST BE FIXED !        hoknes@hotmail.com     306 270-9387


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