Sask. NDP calls for halt to Brandt building in Wascana Park

The Saskatchewan NDP is adding its voice to the chorus of those that have concerns about the commercial office building Brandt wants to construct in Wascana Park.

MLA Nicole Sarauer is the opposition critic of the Provincial Capital Commission, the governing body for the Wascana Centre area.

She said future development on the former CNIB site should stop, that the approval process has not been transparent enough.

“The more we’re learning about this project, the more it’s clear that this project cannot go forward as it is. There are more questions than we have answers. There is a growing amount of concern,” Sarauer said.

Development in Wascana Centre is supposed to adhere to the planning principles in the area’s master plan, including developing the seat of government, advancing culture, education and research, recreation and conservation of the environment.

However, Sarauer said a lease agreement between the province and CNIB, released by the provincial government, suggests otherwise.

She was worried about the kinds of businesses that could be allowed to lease the 77,500 square-foot building.

“Essentially as long as you aren’t directly in conflict with what CNIB does as an organization, you can be a permitted tenant. That’s very concerning because it leaves the door open to essentially anything,” Sarauer said.

Sarauer also called for the governance structure to revert back to the one in place when the Wascana Centre Authority (WCA) was in charge. Back then, the province had appointed five seats on the board, while the City of Regina and University of Regina had three representatives each.

Mike Carr, chair of the Provincial Capital Commission, said the body has final say over how uses in the park. He added the PCC can set its own bylaws and the ones in place are the ones written by the WCA.

“To ensure that the uses and purposes to which buildings and tenancies are put to in the park are in compliance with the master plan,” Carr said.

With the Provincial Capital Commission, the province holds three out of five seats.

As well, meetings of the PCC are not open to the public.

“There’s so much concern right now about concerns being made behind closed doors,” Sarauer said. “The park is too precious to be subject to the whims of any political party.”