News Releases

The City of Saskatoon is aiming to modernize and enhance how it conducts future municipal elections having presented a decision report to the Governance & Priorities Committee on May 17, 2023. Recent amendments to The Local Government Election Act, 2015 (LGEA) provide clarity to permit municipalities greater use of various tools, namely with regards to voters lists and partnerships available with other entities, particularly Elections Saskatchewan.

“With the next municipal election officially scheduled for November 2024, planning is well underway to provide a more efficient voting process for residents,” says Adam Tittemore, City Clerk. “There’s been a continued shift in voter behaviour, notably the greater use of advance polls and mail-in ballots. Considering lessons learned from the 2020 election and best practices from other jurisdictions, we’re committed to adopting new practices and technology to create a smoother, faster and secure voter experience starting in 2024.”

A partnership with Elections Saskatchewan will be key to many of the proposed election improvements, including sharing data, establishing a municipal voters list, sharing election technology, and delivering vote-by-mail services. With respect to sharing data, pending Council endorsement, the City would enter into a formal information-sharing agreement where it would receive voter data which Elections Saskatchewan already owns and curates, to be used for the creation of the voters list. Partnerships with Elections Saskatchewan will help reduce the cost of conducting elections and, in cases such as the acquisition of voter data, come at no cost to the City.

“The legislative ability to enter into this agreement is included in the LGEA, along with the ability to use this information to create a voters list, rather than going through an enumeration process,” adds Tittemore. “The partnership is imperative in achieving our modernization goals and results in financial savings.”

City Administration has also undertaken a procurement process with election technology solution providers to use an election management system (EMS). Cloud-based applications will allow the City to more efficiently operate the election and increase the service and security level for candidates and voters. This technology is intended to be used for the 2024 election in some form to help manage an electronic voters list, mail-in ballot application and fulfilment, candidate portal, voting location management, etc.

The EMS technology and associated hardware, including all listed modules and fulfillment of mail-in ballots, is expected to come at a cost of approximately $102,000. This cost will be offset by fewer poll workers required, savings on printing and supplies, and staff time and resources associated with a more efficient election administration.

The City is committed to protecting the integrity of the voting process, providing a faster and more efficient voter experience at the polls, and an easier way to verify identity for alternative voting formats such as mail-in ballots.

The City of Saskatoon is pleased to announce that Bird and Neuron have been selected as the successful vendors for a two-year pilot to provide the shared e-scooter pilot program in Saskatoon.  

After completing the procurement process, Bird and Neuron were chosen to provide residents and visitors with an affordable, convenient and sustainable transportation option. This will be the first-time shared e-scooters will be available in Saskatoon, and the City is excited to have these industry leaders bring this service to our community.  

"We believe this shared e-scooter pilot will provide benefits to our community, and we look forward to seeing it in action," says Jay Magus, Director of Transportation. "We will work closely with Bird and Neuron to ensure the implementation of this shared e-scooter pilot is safe, reliable, and enjoyable for all users. We will hold the two vendors to our approved framework which was developed with input from local stakeholders and residents of Saskatoon."  

Neuron’s shared e-scooters will be available to ride as early as Thursday, May 18 and Bird’s shared e-scooters are expected to be available Monday, May 22. To ride an e-scooter start by downloading the Bird or Neuron apps on the Apple Store or on Google Play. 

The framework for the pilot requires e-scooter renters to follow the Provincial regulations: e-scooters cannot be operated at a speed greater than 24 km/hr, minimum rider age of 16 years or older and riders are required to wear helmets. 

Shared e-scooters must operate within the approved service area (found on the vendors app) on shared-use paths, pathways, cycle tracks, protected bike lanes and – where no such paths are available – may ride on streets with posted speed limits of 50 km/hr or lower. Shared e-scooters are not permitted to ride on sidewalks. 

Personal e-scooters are not currently allowed on any city street, sidewalk or pathway. The City plans to consider allowing private e-scooters in 2024 once we have conducted a year of this pilot program.   

Please ride responsibly to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all road and pathway users.  

To learn more about this pilot please visit saskatoon.ca/electric-scooter-pilot.

About Bird and Neuron   

Bird and Neuron are leading providers of shared e-scooters, operating in multiple cities across North America and Australia. Both companies provide affordable and sustainable transportation options to communities worldwide.  

The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is honoured to have once again achieved its accreditation through Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA). CAZA accreditation signifies excellence in animal care and management and a commitment to conservation and education. The Zoo is the only CAZA accredited facility in Saskatchewan.

“We are so proud to maintain our CAZA accreditation,” says Jeff Mitchell Zoo Manager. “I really want to thank our incredible team at the Zoo who work tirelessly to provide the highest-quality animal care and continue to contribute to conservation and education initiatives that enhance animal welfare.”

Every five years, CAZA requires zoos to successfully complete the accreditation process to be a member of the association. The accreditation process provides a format for the Zoo to undertake a rigorous self-examination and includes a multi-day site visit to complete the adjudication. The granting of accreditation is for five years, and the Zoo may be reviewed or inspected at anytime within the five-year accreditation period.

About CAZA
Founded in 1975, CAZA is a private charitable organization representing the country’s leading zoological parks and aquariums. CAZA is committed to the advancement of accredited zoos and aquariums as humane agencies of animal welfare, conservation, science and education. For more information visit caza.ca.

Litter and debris can eventually end up in the South Saskatchewan River through storm drains located on all Saskatoon streets and roads. Storm water, snow melt, and anything else that goes down storm drains, flows underground to outfalls along the riverbank. The City, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan (USask), received funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) through their Alliance Grants program to launch a pilot project aimed at preventing debris from entering the river.

“We’ve attached trash trap bags onto outfalls near Pembina Avenue and Prince of Wales Avenue,” says Russ Munro, Director of Saskatoon Water. “When the bags fill, USask staff and students will collect and analyze the contents and test the storm water for potential pollutants.”

“Our team will be able to identify the levels and composition of litter and other potentially harmful contents or pollutants entering the river through our storm drains,” says Dr. Markus Brinkmann, Director of USask’s Toxicology Centre and Lead-Principal Investigator of the USask team.

“We hope that this research will help the City understand the sources of pollution better, with the ultimate goal of controlling it before it can enter the river,” says Dr. Kerry McPhedran, Associate Professor in Civil, Geological and Environmental Engineering at USask and Co-Principal Investigator on the project.

Litter and contaminants entering the river can harm fish and other aquatic life and reduce its recreational value. Residents can help in several ways, including avoiding windblown litter by closing their trash bins properly, responsibly disposing of litter and harmful chemicals, cleaning up after their pets, fertilizing yards with natural elements, and ensuring their vehicles are not leaking fluid. 

The trash trap bag pilot project will be in place for two years at which time a decision will be made whether to expand the initiative. For more information, visit saskatoon.ca/stormwater.