With some hesitation, Moose Jaw City Council has approved a new grant to enhance the heritage feel of the downtown core.

The Heritage Advisory Committee made the recommendation to run a one-year pilot project that would offer financial assistance to a business looking to update their facade with heritage aspects. The program will have a budget of $20,000 found left over in a 2018 Innovative Housing Fund and could be used to help up to four businesses.

The program wasn't a hit with all councillors and Crystal Froese had to sell it to her colleagues on behalf of the committee that she sits on in order to get support.

"Heritage, particularly in the downtown area, has been listed as one of our top features and first priorities in almost every plan that we've had," explained Froese. "The Community Plan, Overall City Wide Plan, The Downtown Local Area Plan, our Strategic Plan and our marketing ideas are all attached to the theme of heritage."

But from Councillor Brian Swanson's point of view, the city is already facing tough financial decisions and now is not the time to be bringing forward a new program and using money that was not intended for this purpose, suggesting that it was about time for city administration to go through all of these small pots of money that seem to be sitting around and use them to fix our infrastructure.

"I think if you start saving the $10,000 and $20,000 chunks, the $100,000 chunks can happen too," said Swanson.

"I would prefer that we tax our commercial properties less so they can make business decisions, as opposed to taxing them more so that we can give money to certain people."

Councillor Heather Eby joined in the debate and said there are businesses that are choosing to stick out the tough times and council needs to show support. This program could be one small way to do that.

"There are some businesses who are working very hard to keep their heads above water and forge ahead during the times that we're experiencing right now and I think if anyone would be so brave as to keep on going and try to improve their business at this point in time, I think that we would be well served to help them out."

Swanson, Dawn Luhning and Scott McMann were all against the motion but it still passed 4-3.