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Phil Tank

Phil Tank

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

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Tank: Bear spray as a weapon continues to pose threat in Saskatchewan

Tank: Bear spray as a weapon continues to pose threat in Saskatchewan
22.01.2025 10

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Sask. still boasting about growth, despite altered landscape

Tank: Sask. still boasting about growth, despite altered landscape
20.01.2025 10

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Survey suggests quality of life in pessimistic Saskatoon declining

Tank: Survey suggests quality of life in pessimistic Saskatoon declining
18.01.2025 10

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: A decade of photo radar in Sask. suggests it's no 'cash cow'

Tank: A decade of photo radar in Sask. suggests it's no 'cash cow'
15.01.2025 10

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan braces for property tax assessment with higher prices

Tank: Saskatchewan braces for property tax assessment with higher prices
11.01.2025 10

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan's government wants your opinion ... on some issues

Tank: Saskatchewan's government wants your opinion ... on some issues
09.01.2025 10

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Despite rhetoric, crime in growing Saskatoon actually dipped in 2024

Tank: Despite rhetoric, crime in growing Saskatoon actually dipped in 2024

Much doubt has been cast on Saskatoon crime statistics, which show fewer crimes last year than in 2023 — and fewer than 10 years ago.

07.01.2025 4

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Studying Saskatoon arena upgrades will fail to convince skeptics

SaskTel Centre is planning to spend $200,000 to study renovations to the current arena, even as a new arena in downtown Saskatoon has been endorsed.

04.01.2025 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Regina, Saskatoon homeless counts show need for new strategy

Releasing the shocking homeless counts in Regina and Saskatoon played right into the Saskatchewan government's plan to avoid talking about the...

02.01.2025 7

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Judy Harwood reflects on 12 years leading largest Sask. rural municipality

Judy Harwood opted against seeking a fourth term as reeve of Corman Park, Saskatchewan's largest rural municipality. She wants more women on RM...

27.12.2024 7

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon boasts legacy of close races, futility in council bids

Dave Whalley won a 1979 race for a Saskatoon city council seat by a single vote and one candidate ran five times without ever getting elected.

23.12.2024 6

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: New owner of Saskatoon StarPhoenix building aims to preserve it

Brent Suer of Duchuck Holdings Ltd. wants to locate a long-sought downtown grocery store in the nearly 60-year-old newspaper office and add...

19.12.2024 5

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Tragic trial's end amplifies cannabis confusion in Saskatchewan

Charges were stayed in the trial of a Saskatoon woman charged with driving over the legal limit for cannabis in a collision that killed a...

18.12.2024 7

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon's TCU Place struggles to stay viable in new landscape

Saskatoon city council heard that the convention business for cities this size has been altered in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, making it...

16.12.2024 5

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon's homelessness crisis outpaces attempts to cope with it

Saskatoon's homeless count has reached 1,499, which was announced on the same day that an extreme cold warning was issued.

14.12.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan tips balance for gratuities to appeal to workers

Saskatchewan is moving to prevent employers from keeping tips from workers, but the government struggles to explain why it's doing this.

11.12.2024 5

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Block's support in mayoral race came from throughout Saskatoon

Voters backed Saskatoon's first woman mayor in the core neighbourhoods and suburbs; she won all but 13 of 69 polls in last month's election.

09.12.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: New Saskatoon city council lowers property tax hike ... for now

Saskatoon's new city council staged a seemingly smooth debut by lowering the property tax hike to 4.96 per cent, which is still the second highest...

07.12.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Moe's main concern for Sask. at U.S. border should be guns

Saskatchewan's premier wants to talk about securing the U.S. border due to concerns about drugs. He should be talking about guns instead.

04.12.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Downsized downtown Saskatoon library offers rare fiscal optimism

The Saskatoon Public Library board vows that the controversial new downtown library will be completed within its $134-million budget

02.12.2024 4

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Next year's tax hike an early test for Saskatoon's new council

Saskatoon's new mayor and council will be asked to consider a higher property tax increase of 5.8 per cent next week, which should offer insight.

29.11.2024 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Moe managed minor miracle by keeping Saskatchewan's right united

The Saskatchewan Party prevented a split in the right-wing vote, but that strategy appears to have cost it support in Regina and Saskatoon.

27.11.2024 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon needs to fix its ongoing bungled election results

Results for Saskatoon city council were delayed for the third straight election; city hall must address its inept election procedures.

26.11.2024 4

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Elections suggest Saskatoon has shifted left, but has it really?

Saskatoon Mayor Cynthia Block appears to represent an extension of Charlie Clark's left-leaning legacy, but this council could tack further to the...

23.11.2024 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Chapter closes with different Saskatoon council exits for Clark, Hill

Charlie Clark and Darren Hill are leaving office after 18 years, but Clark opted to walk away, while Hill was sent packing by voters.

16.11.2024 4

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon's challenges will test Cynthia Block's positive outlook

Saskatoon's first woman mayor will lead a city council with six new members; she cited trying to address homelessness as her top priority.

15.11.2024 4

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Mysterious entities aim to manipulate Regina, Saskatoon voters

Voters in Saskatchewan should ignore the attempts to influence them by shadowy online cabals that refuse to identify who they are and who is...

13.11.2024 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Fairhaven focus is folly for Saskatoon mayoral, council candidates

The problems created when the provincial government opened a homeless shelter in Fairhaven continue to dominate the debate in the city council...

09.11.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon still badly needs a realistic plan for its outdated arena

Some candidates for Saskatoon city council and mayor have expressed skepticism about a downtown arena district, but none have proposed an alternative.

08.11.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan's rural-urban chasm amplified by election results

Sask. is holding overlapping provincial and municipal election campaigns because of the influence of a tiny few in rural areas.

07.11.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Block feels some comments demeaning in Saskatoon mayoral race

The incumbent city councillor trying to become Saskatoon's first woman mayor felt comments in the chamber debate were inappropriate.

06.11.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Departing Saskatoon councillor's sister seeks to replace her

Malvina Rapko is seeking election to the same Saskatoon city council seat her sister Sarina Gersher has represented for the eight years.

05.11.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Block-bashing a baffling strategy for Saskatoon mayoral opponents

Saskatoon's mayoral race continues to look remarkably similar to the 2000 race, with Block's opponents apparently failing to learn the obvious...

02.11.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Atchison blasts decisions by former Saskatoon mayor — himself

Saskatoon mayoral candidate Don Atchison appears to be warning people about decisions he himself made when he was mayor.

01.11.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon hosts grim election night scene for Saskatchewan Party

The Sask. Party's celebration in Saskatoon represented a bizarrely glum, empty room for a government that just won its fifth straight majority.

30.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: New limit of $278K for Saskatoon mayoral bids called 'restrictive'

Saskatoon's spending limit for mayoral campaign is more than $200,000 higher than the limit in Regina and even candidates wonder if it's too high.

28.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Wyant says Sask. Party has drifted right, away from 'core principles'

The former Sask. Party cabinet minister is warning against another fractured vote as he campaigns to become Saskatoon's next mayor.

25.10.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan candidates reflect diversity, but will they get elected?

Saskatchewan's political parties are fielding more diverse slates of candidates, but it remains to be seen whether the election will reflect this.

24.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Ridiculous mall misinformation mars Saskatoon council race

Former Saskatoon mayor Don Atchison is leaning into false claims and misinformation in his increasingly desperate mayoral comeback bid.

22.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon council candidates steeped in political party colours

At least 10 people running for Saskatoon city council have previously sought election for a political party, including two mayoral hopefuls.

19.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan election campaign ignoring homelessness crisis

Saskatchewan's election campaign has scarcely mentioned the homelessness crisis afflicting cities like Saskatoon, Regina and Prince Albert.

17.10.2024 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Atchison running a 'totally different' Saskatoon mayoral campaign

Saskatoon's longest-serving mayor, Don Atchison, is promoting 3D-printed trailers to help solve homelessness in his comeback bid with 'minimal'...

16.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon council candidate willing to sacrifice $100,000 a year

Two council positions are acclaimed, but 46 candidates will compete for the other nine spots with shelters, taxes, donations and coyotes as key...

12.10.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatchewan Party tax plan preferable policy, but poor politics

Moe's Saskatchewan Party has led an almost religious crusade against the federal carbon tax, but not its own provincial consumption taxes.

09.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon mayoral candidates pivot to focus on crime, safety

Former Saskatchewan Party provincial cabinet minister Gord Wyant and Saskatoon Coun. Cynthia Block have shifted their campaigns to become the...

08.10.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Democracy activist omits key details in Saskatoon council bid

Saskatoon city council candidate Henry Chan, who is running in Ward 8, has declined to respond to questions about his employment and residency.

05.10.2024 3

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Climate an unlikely election topic despite struggles in Sask.

Even though Saskatchewan appears afflicted by climate change, the main political parties may avoid the topic during the election campaign.

03.10.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Departing Mayor Clark touts a Saskatoon with 'swagger,' 'hope'

The most effusive praise for Mayor Charlie Clark came from council colleagues who rarely voted with him on major issues.

02.10.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Rare Saskatoon city council losing 'very strong female leaders'

Departing Saskatoon city councillors get emotional about the sacrifices required to serve, especially the women with children, like Coun. Mairin...

01.10.2024 2

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank

Tank: Saskatoon city council exits on low note with shelter hypocrisy

Saskatoon city council's last big decision of this term to approve a downtown shelter site shows hypocrisy when it comes to protecting children.

28.09.2024 1

Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Phil Tank