Ugh. So many inaccuracies, so little time. Without much further ado, I humbly present to you all my short tome entitled:

“My Concerns With This Particular Tweet: A Non-Comprehensive Yet Still Very Lengthy List”

#yxe #yxecc

First off, the new central library is in no way “Charlie Clark’s.” That sort of language is really misleading about the role that City Council has in the decision making of the public library.

Additionally, this language is offensive to the *decades* of people that have worked on this project and the years of SPL leadership that planned for and is now executing this vision.

SPL leadership—I should point out—that is primarily women. Let’s not minimize their work.

It’s also not representative of what this project truly is. It’s a community project, full stop.

It’s a project to give Saskatoon a modern library that is able to meet the needs of our growing and changing community.

It’s a project to give single parents resources and programming for their kids, to give computer access to someone looking for a job, to give a recent immigrant help with their literacy, and to give refuge and discovery for those seeking.

It’s a project for all of Saskatoon.

Second (I know, we’re only onto point number 2), the comparisons to the new Halifax Central Library are inaccurate because:

The costs of the Halifax project don’t include the cost of purchasing land

The costs of the Saskatoon project are in 2026 dollars, not 2020 (add more inflation)

The costs of the Saskatoon project include everything, including all contractors, design costs, community engagement, relocation, etc

The costs of the Saskatoon project include a *healthy* 25% contingency, while Halifax’s are final numbers

The Halifax project doesn’t include office space, so they have to pay for these costs elsewhere

The Halifax central library is already too small for their purposes, whereas Saskatoon is looking to build for our future

These sorts of comparisons do not look at their public library systems as a whole, as they have different approaches to branch libraries

What’s more, is that all of this information is publicly available (and has been for some time). It isn’t difficult to find, and it’s the sort of information that the SPL is trying to get across.

Third, critiquing the SPL for being transparent and open about this project is akin to attacking knowledge. It is akin to attacking the fundamental tenant that the electorate should be informed.

Spreading disinformation, as this this tweet attempts to do, is a dangerous and undemocratic move. We see this critique and rejection of facts happening all too frequently south of the border.

Candidates must be above this sort of behaviour.

Fourth, I find it deeply troubling that the tweet only shows a screenshot and doesn’t quote the original tweet. This makes it so that someone who sees this tweet has to search for the original SPL tweet that contains a link to the website.

(I understand that I used a screenshot, but it was only to show the full breadth of the tweet. In doing this, I didn’t eliminate any links to websites because they were already eliminated.)

This makes it harder for people to actually get information on this important project.

For the record, here is a link to the website: https://saskatooncentrallibrary.ca .

Finally (well, at least finally for now), simplifying a project like a new central library to a soundbite statement fails to actually engage with the significance and importance of what the project is and what it means for Saskatoon.

This is a major project of reinvestment in the downtown to move forward with the replacement of a public building that has not been adequately serving our community for years.

We deserve a better central library (and at least one that has more washroom facilities...).

The business case for the library speaks to the importance of the new space in invigorating the downtown, in better serving patrons, in working towards reconciliation, and in being focused on the future.

I know where my priorities lie.

(fin)