Civically Speaking CFCR 90.5

Will be placing some of the recent shows in this link and upcoming links. Thanks always for tuning in. Much appreciation.

2026.01.06 Civically Speaking It's a New Year 2026 - Civically Speaking Podcast with Host, Lenore Swystun and Co-Host, Christina Cherneskey Dear Listeners,Happy New Year!  May 2026 bring you and this show and others that air on community radio and are spread through podcast platforms beyond do their very best to stay informed and have us exercising our civic muscles always.In the...

Hello Dear Listeners,

Thanks for tuning in - and supporting community radio shows and podcasts like this - we air to Saskatoon's community radio station cfcr.ca and give an opportunity to hear it via a podcast version.

This kind of talk is best paired with a cup of coffee, a deep breath, and maybe a stiff drink after — because city budgets affect all of us, whether we like it or not. Consider this your friendly neighbourhood heads-up before the next property tax notice shows up in your mailbox wearing a serious face.

In Part One, we go straight into Saskatoon’s newly approved 2026–2027 City Budget. Lenore breaks down what the headline numbers actually mean for everyday life — including the 6.7% property tax increase, utility rates, and recreation fees. We talk about where the money is going: roads and snow clearing, policing and fire protection, transit safety, housing and homelessness, water treatment, facilities, and city services you touch every day. We also pull back the curtain on the powerful behind-the-scenes process — the “108 budget options” that shaped what stayed, what shifted, and what almost got cut. And we share reactions from City Hall, councillors, community voices, and residents.

In Part Two, we zoom way out. Because Saskatoon isn’t alone. Across Canada — and in cities around the world — municipal budgets are under serious pressure. We talk about why property taxes are doing so much heavy lifting, how housing, climate change, and population growth are landing on city doorsteps, and how volunteers and community groups are quietly holding things together. We also look at what other countries do differently, and ask the big question:
Are cities just the maintenance department — or are they true partners in nation-building?

Enjoy this episode about money, priorities, responsibility, and the future of our cities.

Civically speaking,

Lenore Swystun with Christina Cherneskey (who sends her regrets)

Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/252451/episodes/18289790

2025.12.02 Civically Speaking - Inside Saskatoon’s Budget (and a 108 reasons!?) — And Why City Budgets Everywhere Are Under Pressure - Civically Speaking Podcast with Host, Lenore Swystun and Co-Host, Christina Cherneskey Hello Dear Listeners,Thanks for tuning in - and supporting community radio shows and podcasts like this - we air to Saskatoon's community radio station cfcr.ca and give an opportunity to hear it via a podcast version.This kind of talk is best pair...

Here's this week's episode.

2025.06.24 Civically Speaking Trump launches missles and f-bombs - to Transit Links, Bear Spray and stories closer to home... - Civically Speaking Podcast with Host, Lenore Swystun and Co-Host, Christina Cherneskey Dear Listeners,Thanks for tuning in!Summer's here—and so is a wave of stories making headlines. From global power shifts to the future of transit right here in our city, Christina and I are diving into what matters most to Saskatoon.We’ll connect ...