Saskatoon residents are worried about the future of the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, as the City of Saskatoon is debating handing it over to a third-party operator: The YMCA. 

CUPE President Kent Peterson says CUPE 59 launched an online survey to get a glimpse into how the public was feeling about the potential change. 

He says an astounding 250 people responded to the extensive survey, saying accountability, transparency, affordability and access were their main concerns. 

“As soon as you start privatizing facilities like the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre, fees start to come into question. How much is it going to cost for families and community members to use the facility,” Peterson explains.

Of the 250 responses, 138 specifically mentioned concerns about access.  

“If the facility was privatized and contracted out, what would the operation hours be? What would the access be in terms of programming and the ability to use the centre? All of those are valid concerns.”

Peterson says the public model works well, because “It’s accountable to people. It’s transparent. Taxpayers are first and foremost in making sure the hours of access are appropriate, that the programming is appropriate for the community.”

He says ideally, upon seeing community feedback, the City of Saskatoon will rethink the situation and affirm that they’re not going to contract out or privatize Harry Bailey or any future leisure centre.

In a response from the City, Director of Recreation Andrew Roberts says there are ongoing discussions between the two parties, but a partnership is not set in stone. He assures that the core purpose of their work will remain unchanged, which is to provide high-quality programs and services that enhance the lives of Saskatoon residents.

In regard to staffing, Roberts adds that all permanent staff that worked at the Harry Bailey Aquatic Centre were transferred into a comparable permanent position at another Leisure Centre, and any potential partnership with the YMCA would have no impact to existing staff.