SASKATOON, SK: The City of Saskatoon spent about $87,000 to create a habitat for an artist to stay at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo, according to documents obtained by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

“Artists can practice their craft without city taxpayers paying for a special building for them at the zoo,” said Gage Haubrich, CTF Prairie Director.  “Taxpayers can understand when they pay for habitats for naked mole rats and crested porcupines at the zoo, but why are they paying for a human artist’s terrarium too?”

The project started back in 2019 to “to provide opportunities for artistic expression in a civic facility,” and to “to inspire artists through the nature, animals, and people.”

Artists in the program were paid to set up a studio space at the zoo’s bunkhouse. They were expected spend set amounts of time there, making art and hosting workshops.

So far, the city has spent $13,029 on the program and $74,244 renovating and repairing the bunkhouse. The program is currently set to continue in 2024.

Saskatoon city council recently passed its budget, hiking property taxes by a decade-high six per cent in 2024.

“City council is pushing through record property tax hikes while spending thousands of dollars to give artists a place to hang out at the zoo,” said Haubrich. “Mayor Charlie Clark and the rest of city council need to cancel this artist-in-the-zoo project before anymore taxpayers’ dollars are wasted.”