On March 25 City Council discussed its debt limit and said it does not currently have the debt room to support the Central Library Renewal Project. The motion noted below was passed. See the Recordings Archive https://www.myaccess.ca/accessnowwatch/live/regina-city-council for the discussion on video. Timing of discussion is listed below.
The RPL Board is now considering its options, which include presenting a request for funds that would go into the City budget planning process for 2027, that will occur this Fall.
In the future, if the City has: a reduction in costs, e.g. savings related to the sale of several facilities in the REAL District to the Brandt Group; or receives federal Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund money, or applies to the Saskatchewan Municipal Board again and is allowed to have additional debt room. So, if and whenever cost savings occur or SMB approval is obtained, the City could go ahead and allow the RPL to incur its debt.
So, the Central project, as currently envisioned, with slant toward demolishing the current heritage building, is not necessarily halted forever.
On April 2 the RPL issued this statement https://central.reginalibrary.ca/a-message-from-jeff-barber-library-director-and-ceo There is much important info and ideas at that website.
MOTION: From City Clerk’s office
At its meeting on March 25, 2026, City Council considered report CM26-2 Debt, Other Capital Funding Considerations, and Opportunities for Central Library Renewal and adopted the following resolution:
That City Council affirm the following definition clarifies the intent of its July 9, 2024 decision pertaining to item CR24-74 Central Library Renewal Project Debt Financing Report:
“A Council commitment to debt fund a project is an indication that Council is generally supportive of the type of project presented. It does not bind the City or Administration to the project or the related assumed debt until such time as the project and funding source are approved during budget deliberations. As commitments do not bind the City in any way, it would be possible for Council to commit to more projects than there is currently debt room available. Commitments will be tracked by Administration and reported annually in the debt report.”
“At this time, Council recognizes there is currently not enough debt room to proceed with the Central Library Renewal Project. The Regina Public Library can consider the options presented in this report (CM26-2) and return during future budget deliberations.”
Timing of City Council discussion March 25, 2026 (Note: discussions paraphrased from video recording as accurately as can be. For exact wording see the meeting video.)
Delegations for written reports see chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://reginask.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=4498&Inline=True
- Jim Elliott: 4:16 to 4:22
- Joanne Havelock, FRPL: 4:23 to 4:39
- Marj Gavigan RPL Board Chair, Jeff Barber Library Director and CEO, Curtis Smith ED Finance and Strategy.: 4:29 to 4:33
- Questions from Councillors to RPL: 4:33
- Mancinelli: Appreciates there have been false starts and different directions over the years. Library has big responsibilities. This is a large junk of money. The library represents all areas of the city. Do Central problems spill over into the rest of Regina’s branches?
- Barber: The Service Points Master Plan (SPMP) was laid aside a couple of times. But it is designed to work together with planning for Central. Central is a funding challenge. Funding for other branch development will be addressed in long term planning.
- Froh: giving RPL a chance to highlight the importance of Central project “good for all wards”.
- Gavigan: Central a community hub; creates start to revitalizing downtown; safety in numbers in the downtown; 400,000 visits [later she said 400.000 people, which is not correct].
- Barber: Docs on website show RPL work [by the way, many reports are there due to FRPL request for them].
- Gavigan: Canadian Urban Libraries Council ‘s Social Impact Study, Jan 30, 2026 shows value of libraries. https://culc.ca/project/social-impact-study/4:33 to 4:39
- Bezos: Unfortunate situation re City commitments to RPL. But, is there an asset management of all library buildings that will be shared with City Council,
- Barber: SPMP to lay out philosophy of service management, but also establish a long term plan the Board can work with.
- Bezos: Are you talking about a long-term focus on the capital required for asset management?
- Barber: Yes, service and asset management.
- Bezos: Why are we not looking at that right now? Why don’t we have an asset management plan?
- Barber: We do have full asset reports. The SPMP got set aside a couple of times due to Central becoming front and centre when it was not expected to be.
- Bezos: We now know we aren’t’ going to be building a new library, so going forward we are going to focus on what it takes to repair the existing facility and how much capital is required?
- Gavigan: The RPL Board will be discussing closing off the current process of last 18 months and determining a path forward.
- Bezos: Will we know what is happening with those assets? Gavigan: At some time. I can’t tell you when. 4:40 to 4:43
Discussion by Councillors: 4:44 to 4:49
Daren Anderson, Deputy City Manager and CFO: explained City Administration’s report. Three parts: official debt plan, other capital funding considerations and opportunities for the Central Library Renewal Project. City has many priorities. There is not enough debt room for Central project.
Froh: RPL does good work. RPL needs clarity from City re debt funding. Introduced his motion, seconded by Turnbull. To 4:49
Zachiniak: Agrees re need for clarity.
Burton: Not good with process that has led to RPL bouncing off the side rails. City needs to support water, housing. Supports motion.
Mancinelli: Supports motion.
Turnbull: Appreciates expensive and time-consuming work of RPL. She wants City to work in partnership. Supports motion.
Bachynski: Unfortunate that this situation has occurred. Supports motion.
Vote: Motion passed unanimously. 4:50
Friends of the Regina Public Library 