City Council has voted to prioritize three railway overpasses for further planning.
Crossing’s at Preston Avenue, Marquis Drive and 11th Street West were recommended for further development by city administration.
Councillor Hillary Gough says the 11th Street West crossing can completely shut in or shut out the Montgomery neighbourhood. She says residents have indicated to her that the crossing is a concern when it comes to safety and emergency services and people have told her about deceased family members that may still be alive, if emergency services had been able to access them in a more timely fashion.
Councillor Darren Hill also made a motion, which was passed, for city administration to investigate the National Transportation Act of 1987. He says there are regulations that may provide an opportunity to continue to look at the removal of the CP rail line while accommodating CP and CN movement of trains, around the city.
Hill says this could create additional conversations with the Federal Government and a potential pilot program for the city.
Saskatoon has moved closer to ban businesses from providing conversion therapy, after passing a motion to draft a bylaw that will go in front of city council next month.
Councillor Hillary Gough says for her, the purpose of the bylaw is to clearly state that Saskatoon stands against harm to residents on the basis of their gender, sexual identity or expression. She says activities that are harmful to residents are taking place in the community, it’s not a past and begone activity, and the harms are real and long lasting.
Councillor Hill says his focus is to ensure that the safety of every one of Saskatoon’s citizens is considered. He suggests Saskatoon cannot wait for the federal government comes through with legislation and council needs to act as quick as possible.
Council’s motion to draft a bylaw for the February council meeting was passed with Councillor Randy Donauer being the only opposing vote.
City council also heard from the Canada Research Chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth, Dr. Kristopher Wells, of MacEwan University in Edmonton, regarding any concerns with the bylaw and the Canadian Charter. Wells confirmed the draft bylaw is charter compliant and clearly within the scope and authority of the city as per the provincial Municipalities Act. Dr. Wells says with federal legislation ongoing, it’s incorrect to think further local legislation is unnecessary or redundant. He says all levels of government have a role to play in prohibiting conversion therapy. Wells suggests a local bylaw can also provide a direct, accessible, immediate remedy, rather than federal criminal charges that could take years to prosecute.
