WATCH LIVE: Saskatoon residents spar in special hearing over housing accelerator fund
CTV
Over 50 speakers are scheduled to debate the pros and cons of the proposed zoning changes for the federal housing accelerator fund in a special hearing at Saskatoon's city hall on Thursday morning.
Over 50 speakers are scheduled to debate the pros and cons of the proposed zoning changes for the federal housing accelerator fund in a special hearing at Saskatoon's city hall on Thursday morning.
The event - which will be livestreamed in the video player above starting at 9:30 a.m. - could stretch on into the afternoon.
Critics have called on city council to delay the zoning changes required by the federal government to access more than $41 million in funds to build new housing and address a lack of affordable housing.
Last Friday, Saskatoon mayoral candidate Cary Tarasoff filed a statement of claim against the city, hoping to delay or halt the zoning changes, which would allow developers to build taller and higher-density residential buildings without a special permit.
Tarasoff claims the move could overtax the city's aging infrastructure, like sewers, roadways and the landfill, and the federal government's tight timelines to access funding leave little room for engineering assessments.
On Monday, a King's Bench judge rejected his lawsuit, declining to intervene in the decision of a duly-elected municipal government.
"This appears to be a disagreement by a voter with the direction being taken by city council," said Justice Natasha Crooks.
