Not having a clear definition for what am 2SLGBTQIA+ Sanctuary City entails is why Administration recommended to the Governance and Priorities Committee not to go ahead with it. A petition was presented to Council to do so back in November of 2023.

Administration also listed many initiatives the City has including a transgender inclusion working group, and establishing community partnerships to support inclusive recruitment. Blake Tait, a trans man who was one of the ones who organized the petition, spoke to the committee, first saying he was surprised at all the City is doing because he hadn’t heard of most of it even though he has been doing queer advocacy for a long time, is a co-chair of Saskatoon Pride and has spoken in Chambers as a queer advocate three times before on different issues, and he doesn’t know anyone who has been a part of the initiatives. He suggested Saskatoon Pride be added to their contact list, which Administration said it would do. Tait said, “As a trans man in this city, under a provincial government using my community’s rights as a way to win votes, I struggle to feel seen or heard.”

Councillor Jasmin Parker stated that symbols matter and added, “If all we can do is symbolically say you are safe in this space, that can be a life-changing statement to make.” She introduced a motion that the City be declared as a sanctuary city for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Councillor Randy Donauer suggested it be changed to a ‘safe’ city, and the motion was approved unanimously. The motion still has to go through City Council