Question Period (27 November 2024)

From Hansard (27 November 2024)

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Emergency Shelter and Cold-Weather Strategy

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, winter is here and with it the extreme cold weather. The government should be implementing a cold-weather strategy. Instead the burden is placed on our already underfunded community-based organizations, like the Prairie Harm Reduction and the Saskatchewan Indian & Métis Friendship Centre in my community of Saskatoon. They open their doors 24 hours a day to keep people safe, seeing hundreds of people a night that would otherwise be cold and alone on the street.

Last week I wrote with my colleagues to the Minister of Social Services, calling for urgent action on this issue. When will we see action from the Sask Party government to open further shelter spaces and provide safe refuge for people facing homelessness?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Cold-weather strategies are led by the cities and the community partners to tailor an approach that best meets the need of that community. The Ministry of Social Services is working closely with the partners to ensure availability of space and other supports. The Ministry of Social Services is working with these communitybased organizations and all levels of government to keep people safe year-round with additional support of warming centres and shelters over the cold winter months.

The ministry is in contact with the city of Regina and the city of Saskatoon on an ongoing basis. And we’re working closely with those cities and others to ensure that everyone in need of a shelter has a safe, warm place to stay and access to services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, the frigid Saskatchewan winter comes every single year. Yet for some reason, every single year we see the Sask Party government scramble to try to put a plan in place. When will we see an actual provincial-based strategy to keep people safe from the cold?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to give an update, tonight there are over 450 emergency shelter spaces available across the province for those in immediate need of shelter. People experiencing homelessness in Regina also have access to warming spaces at Carmichael Outreach and All Nations Hope. In Saskatoon, overnight warming spaces are provided by the Saskatoon Indian & Métis Friendship Centre.

In addition too, we have street teams that are out connecting with the people that are out in the cold and helping them get shelter and have a warm place, safe space, to stay the night while we work on other plans, including the provincial approach to homelessness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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