Regina city council locked itself into an hours-long meeting Wednesday coming out with the approval of a new community-based program to address food insecurity in the city.

The program is already being undertaken by a group called, “FASTT” but the group says they are without a home.

“Our program isn’t just an idea on paper,” Good Trouble Network YQR’s Tiro Mthembu told councillors Wednesday. “It is on the ground, active and at work.”

Already, the collaborative initiative of the Heritage Community Association (HCA), Good Trouble Network YQR, Regina Street Team (RST), The Matriarch’s Collective and University of Regina, Faculty of Business feed over 800 people each week.

“Our days start off at the Thompson School, where we feed 65 students,” Mthembu explained. “Then we move over to HCA, where we build meals for the RST to hand out to our most vulnerable across the city.”

The motion, brought forward by Ward 6 Coun. Victoria Flores, proposed to allow the collective to operate out of the former Firehouse 1 on 11th Avenue.

It recommended FASTT pay a $1 per month rental fee plus be exempt from paying property taxes.

“These folks have demonstrated to us what is being done,” Flores said. “Now we have the ability to make more with that.”

“This supports our community. And it supports part of our city’s plans and the things our programs are already trying to advocate for,” Flores added.

The FASTT program operates through research funding obtained from the University of Regina.

Researcher Peter Moroz has partnered with the group in an advisory role to ensure the program’s success.

“What good trouble needs now is an investment in their leadership and their proven impact to help them scale their work, deepen their reach and ensure long term sustainability,” Moroz said.

The proposal received unanimous support from those voting Wednesday.

Ward 10 Coun. Clark Bezo temporarily left the meeting just prior to the vote happening.

During questioning, Bezo was vocal against the ideology of Good Trouble Network, but never directly asked representatives from the organization any questions.

“They do some community well-being,” the councillor commented. “But they’re also very much involved with political extremism.”

Bezo had to be cut off by meeting chair Mayor Chad Bachynski who said the comments were not in relation to the motion before them.

“Is the space going to be used for kind of an ideology training ground, or is it going to be used for actually delivering something to the community?” Bezo asked to Moroz.

“This is not about ideology,” Moroz replied.

Ward 9 Coun. George Tsiklis also attempted to ask questions to Moroz about Good Trouble’s political sphere.

“Would it not be important if you’re funding something that includes social media, that you would have some sort of oversight of that?” Tsiklis asked.

“Why would I have oversight of it? It’s a community led project,” Moroz said.

“Maybe we should have asked this of the group before you,” Tsiklis added.

Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak took exception to the line of questioning.

“I’m frankly embarrassed folks came out with a solution to help us meet our goals as a council” she said. “And what happens? People start attacking them. But not even to their face when they have the opportunity to respond. It’s once they returned to the gallery.”

FASTT hopes to be operating its food program out of its new space when their lease agreement with the city begins April 21.

Scarth Street Mall

Meanwhile, council also made sure a car never drives through the F.W. Hill Mall – better known as the Scarth Street Mall – downtown.

In 2023, the city opened a public survey to find potential options for the future of Regina’s lone pedestrian-only road in the city.

The survey found overwhelming opposition to allowing vehicle traffic on the stretch of road in the city’s downtown.

Councillors approved changes to the official community plan to close the possibility of allowing cars in the area.

The Downtown Business Improvement District hopes a balance may be struck to accommodate the local businesses on the road.

“We would recommend a comprehensive review of the current design before advocating for the complete elimination of vehicular traffic Scarth Street downtown,” Director of Downtown Vibrancy Leasa Gibbons said. “[We] suggest exploring a design that retains limited vehicular access to support diverse activities, enhance street functionality.”

In January, proposed plans for the space indicated the street would remain pedestrian only.

A revitalization project, which includes the upgrade of below-ground infrastructure, is scheduled to go ahead in 2027 as planned.

The motion passed 10-1 with only Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli voting against it.