Regina’s executive committee debating Brandt’s proposed purchase of REAL. Follow for live updates.

The Brandt Centre stands adjacent to Mosaic Stadium at the REAL District in Regina, Sask.

Regina’s executive committee is discussing the proposed deal that would see the Brandt group of companies purchase several city-owned facilities on the REAL Campus.

The proposed $6.5 million deal was made public late last week.

Brandt, owned by billionaire Shaun Semple, the City of Regina and REAL negotiated the terms of a non-binding agreement that could see the company assume ownership of nine assets on the REAL District Campus that includes the Brandt Centre, the Queensbury Convention Centre and the Ag-Ex Building, among other properties.

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The deal would see the nearly 700 unionized REAL employees transferred to Brandt, with the company assuming the existing collective agreements. The 50 out-of-scope individuals currently employed by REAL would be offered employment or given severance and terminated.

According to the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting, 13 people are scheduled to appear as delegates to speak on the topic of Brandt’s REAL proposal, including Semple himself.

If approved by executive committee, the deal will go before city council on May 6.

Wednesday’s executive committee meeting began at 9 a.m.

Our live coverage of the proceedings will be displayed below.

12:02 PM – Former mayor Pat Fiacco weighs in on proposal

Pat Fiacco appeared as a delegate during the meeting to give his support for the proposal.

Referencing an earlier comment from Mike Tate regarding “time killing deals,” Ward 2 Coun. George Tsiklis asked the former mayor whether this was the case during his tenure in city hall.

“As the former mayor, it’s common for people to ask me what I think of this and that and I try not to give my opinion since I am no longer in your chair. But this one matters to the citizens of Regina,” Fiacco said in response.

“We have the Grey Cup coming up as Councillor Turnbull alluded to, and REAL is going to be the hub for that along with our downtown. We’re going to hear from the Regina Hotels Association who are all about heads on beds. There is a real spin-off to our community.”

Executive committee adjourned for lunch at 12:15 p.m.

Jacob Carr, CTV News Regina videojournalist

11:50 AM – Regina District and Chamber of Commerce CEO answers committee question about popcorn

Regina District and Chamber of Commerce CEO Mike Tate, who is also in support of the proposal, was asked a business question pertaining to movie theatre popcorn.

The query came from Ward 5 Coun. Sarah Turnbull.

“A business like a movie theatre makes money off of the popcorn, not the movie, correct? So, you’re making money off the product you’re selling, not the business itself, so there is an incentive to have lots of community events, correct?” Turnbull asked.

Tate replied in the affirmative, adding that improvements are needed to attract more activity to the REAL District, improvements he believes Brandt will provide.

“We have an unbelievable stadium in Mosaic, and I believe we haven’t done the best job as a city to deliver on more events at Mosaic,” he explained.

“This proposal is rooted in a company that wants to deliver more events and more activity to our community, that’s really good for business.”

Jacob Carr, CTV News Regina videojournalist

11:29 AM – WHL commissioner speaks in support of proposal

Western Hockey League Commissioner Dan Near travelled from Calgary to speak in support of the proposal.

“As I look ahead five to ten years, I’d argue that facilities are the league’s most important challenge and risk,” he said.

Near pointed to the story of Maddox Schultz, a local hockey phenom who played 34 games for the Regina Pats this past season.

The commissioner said good quality infrastructure, such as rinks, are crucial to attracting talent in the sport.

“The truth is, however that we’re that we’re just a few years away from the Schultz family making the decision whether to continue playing hockey in Regina or to move to the NCAA south of the border,” he noted.

“This is influenced by the environment, experience, and facilities.”

Jacob Carr, CTV News Regina videojournalist

11:23 AM – Harvard Developments in favour of Brandt deal

Harvard Developments President and CEO Roseann Hill Blaisdell was the first delegate to speak in support of the REAL – Brandt Proposal.

“As Reginans, we need to recognize that we need to take immediate action before our REAL District disintegrates. Further repelling conventions, conferences, concerts, tournaments because of its condition and poor associated amenities,” she said in her prepared remarks.

Blaisdell went on to say that while the REAL District does have potential to be a real show piece for Regina, very few, if any, private sector developers or operators would have the capacity to take on the project in the campus’s current condition.

Blaisdell assured the committee that Harvard Developments is not willing to submit a bid.

“Too many opportunities are missed as a result of paralysis by analysis; too many clear solutions are overlooked in the face of bureaucracy. It’s time we stopped talking about revitalization and start acting on it,” she said.

“... In closing, I would strongly urge executive committee to approve and recommend the Brant proposal to city council.”

Jacob Carr, CTV News Regina videojournalist

11:15 AM - Brandt proposal overview

City administration begins to provide its overview of Brandt’s $6.5 million proposal to purchase much of the REAL District Campus.

Deputy City Manager Daren Anderson, among others, walk the committee through the deal which includes nine assets on the REAL Campus.

“The proposal provides an orderly transition that protects community events and prioritizes economic impact. Administration believes this is an exceptional opportunity for taxpayers, residents, businesses and city council,” Anderson said.

The deal, which took five months to reach, fulfills several priorities for taxpayers according to Anderson.

“It’s about playgrounds. It’s about tax relief. It’s about Arcola Avenue, libraries, north central revitalization, water infrastructure and community grants,” he added.

“It is about what we decide is best for taxpayer dollars.”

David Prisciak, CTV News Regina Senior Digital Journalist

9:15 AM - Meeting gets underway

A handful of delegations are scheduled to speak before Brandt’s REAL proposal is debated.

Topics include a special events grant allocation for the Mosaic Festival from Regina Multicultural Council, and annual submittals from the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, Regina’s Warehouse Business Improvement District, and Economic Development Regina.

Jacob Carr, CTV News Regina videojournalist