A group of Saskatoon residents, led by a former chief executive officer of the city's arena, has launched an effort to gather signatures that could force a referendum on the proposed Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED).
Grassroots push aims to put DEED before voters
Ken Wood, who previously ran what is now SaskTel Centre when it was known as SaskPlace and later the Credit Union Centre, is one of the organisers behind a new website that invites residents to register their interest before an official petition is filed. The site, voteondeed.ca, is being used to collect names and contact information as an "advanced commitment" to sign the paper petition once a formal campaign begins, organisers said.
"Whatever one’s position on the proposed project, a public expenditure and commitment of this magnitude deserves the direct consent of Saskatoon taxpayers," the group quoted Wood as telling reporters.
The DEED project has been discussed for several years and is intended to transform part of Saskatoon's downtown into a hub for commerce, tourism, entertainment and nightlife. While the development is not yet shovel-ready, the city recently moved forward in talks with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation and in June the two parties signed a memorandum of understanding as part of ongoing discussions about a potential partnership.
Legal threshold, timeline and logistics
Under Saskatchewan's The Cities Act, residents must gather signatures from at least 10 per cent of a city's population to trigger a referendum. In Saskatoon that threshold is 26,615 valid signatures, according to the city. Once the first signature is collected, the petitioner has 90 days to present the signed petition to the city clerk. If the petition is accepted as valid, a referendum must then be held within nine months.
Organisers say the advance registration phase will help them estimate public interest and prepare for the formal petition period. The move to create an online registry comes before collection of the physical signatures that will be required by law.
- Project: Downtown Event and Entertainment District (DEED)
- Organiser: Group led by Ken Wood, former arena CEO
- Signature threshold: 26,615 valid signatures (10% of Saskatoon population)
- Legal deadlines: Petition to be submitted within 90 days of first signature; referendum within nine months if petition valid
What a petition would mean for Saskatoon
A successful petition would force a public vote on whether the city should proceed with the DEED project as currently proposed or negotiated. For residents, that would mean a direct say on a large-scale public expenditure and an opportunity to debate specifics about partnerships, costs and the project’s footprint in the downtown core.
City hall has already signalled it is pursuing negotiations with Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, underscoring the project’s complexity and the need for clarity on ownership, funding and long-term management. The memorandum of understanding signed in June does not commit the city to construction; it sets out a framework for further talks.
Proponents of the development argue projects like DEED can stimulate downtown activity, attract visitors and support local businesses. Critics say major public investments should only proceed with clear financial plans and taxpayer consent, concerns echoed by the petition organisers.
Next steps and what residents should watch for
At this stage the group is gathering registrations online and has not yet filed a formal petition. Residents who want to support or oppose the petition should watch for announcements about the official petition period, which will trigger the 90-day window to collect the required signatures.
City officials have previously outlined municipal processes that will apply if a valid petition is submitted, including verification of signatures by the city clerk. If a referendum is scheduled, residents can expect the city to provide information about the timing, ballot question and voting logistics.
For now, the debate over DEED remains both a planning and a political question in Saskatoon — one that could move from council chambers to a citywide ballot if organisers can meet the legal threshold.
Residents can review the voteondeed.ca sign-up and monitor announcements from the group and the city for formal filing dates and details.
