Nearly 60 Saskatoon residents have requested to speak at today’s special meeting of Saskatoon City Council to discuss the Housing Accelerator Fund, with opinions ranging from strongly supporting, dead against, and looking for a compromise.

Last year, Saskatoon applied for the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, which would provide roughly $41 million to addressing housing supply. Ottawa then requested that the City make several zoning adjustments in order to receive the funding. The adjustments involve legalizing up to four units on large enough properties across the city, as well as on lots within 800 metres of planned rapid transit.

One resident, Doug Richardson, stated that the Housing Accelerator Fund has divided the city more than he’s ever seen.

Richardson says he has spoken to finance and housing officials in Ottawa, and they have no intent of disrupting historical neighborhoods, or withholding future funding if Saskatoon decides to vote against the project.

“To suggest that we might lose infrastructure funding if we don’t approve this today, if we don’t make all these changes in our neighborhoods, with the greatest respect your worship, it just isn’t quite accurate.”

Mayor Clark replied that Richardson did not reach out to him to discuss Ottawa’s response, and this is the first he has heard of these allegations.

Another resident, Brenda Zeman, says even though federal politicians say jump, Saskatoon does not need to say, ‘how high?’ She says Saskatoon’s infrastructure is not prepared to take on a project like this.

“On the corridor where I live, I have already had two water main breaks on the boulevard this summer…I shudder to think what will happen if I have a four-story apartment building on one side of me, or maybe two. One on either side.”

Resident Mike Bischoff says he is not against adding density to the city, but he is strongly opposed to blanket rezoning.

“Blanket rezoning does not consider the character and feel of the diverse neighbourhoods we have in Saskatoon that help define our great city. I believe you need to evaluate the wards individually to make the best choices and changes for people that live and invest there.”

Echoing his comments was Johnathan Naylor, who is part of the Varsity View Community Association. He states that this project will support the clear cutting of thousands of trees, increased crime, less tourist attraction, and a need for new infrastructure. He suggests the City construct new neighborhoods instead of densifying old ones.

Another Saskatoon speaker, Elizabeth Snead, says a change of that magnitude is not worth the amount of money the city would receive.

“Just to give you an idea, we proposed to build one four-story building at the University of Saskatchewan, and that was going to cost $35 million, so $41 million is nothing.”

Another resident says City Council’s vote over the new zoning amendments seems performative, considering the first federal Housing Accelerator Fund payment has already been secured.

Erin Lashta says when she reads the agreement between the City and Ottawa, she can’t find a dollar amount earmarked for spending on affordable housing.

“If there is not an amount tied to that…how do we know how much of the $41 million is going to go towards student housing or housing for Indigenous people.”

Director of Planning and development Leslie Anderson confirmed that the first $10 million payment from Ottawa has been received, but if the amendments aren’t passed, the money must be sent back. She adds that $35 million of the money will go towards affordable housing.

On the other hand, numerous residents are strongly supportive of the HAF project, including Varsity View resident Scott Bell, who says it is crucial to address Saskatoon’s significant housing challenges.

In agreement with Bell was Sheri Olsen, a Lawson Heights resident who says the housing affordability crisis has led to people tenting in friend’s back yards and moving in with family members.

She says she knows four people, with full time jobs, that could not afford the latest rent increase.

“One considered giving their child to the ministry, so they didn’t have to be homeless with them. Consider what that would be like to tell your child.”

She says housing capacity and affordability need to be increased fast, which is she supports the Housing Accelerator Fund and zoning amendments that will come with it.