Question Period (26 March 2025)

From Hansard (26 March 2025)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 2:29:10 PM.

Funding for Mental Health Care Home Operators

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we are joined by 14 mental health approved home operators. They are here today because this government continues to underfund these homes that offer essential mental health services.

Mr. Speaker, these operators save the province tens of thousands of dollars by providing a safe and stable home for folks who would struggle without their support. The increase that these operators saw in 2023-24 was $30 per resident per month. Mr. Speaker, this doesn’t even keep up with the cost of living and essentials. Will the minister commit to additional funding for these operators today?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I’d like to welcome these mental health professionals to their legislature today. And of course, I would be more than happy to meet with the group afterwards to discuss what we have in the 2025-26 budget that will address some of these concerns.

And part of my work as minister, I’ve been doing a lot of outreach with different community-based organizations, individuals, families all across the province. And I’ll continue to do this work by sitting down later on this afternoon and we’ll have further discussions on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Brent Blakley: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s good to see that the minister will be meeting with these folks after. Again just to review, these operators deal with a variety of challenging circumstances. They’ve shared stories about residents overdosing and passing away or going into medical distress.

Their costs have skyrocketed, and it’s become challenging to stay afloat. The cost of living, groceries, utilities, insurance, and gas have all increased. Mr. Speaker, continuing operations like this is not sustainable. These residents would otherwise be in a hospital, limited shelter space available, or on the street. And again thank you to the minister for meeting with them today.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member opposite for those kind words. And I do look forward to meeting with this group later on this afternoon at my earliest possible moment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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From Hansard (26 March 2025)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 2:35:30 PM.

Social Housing Units

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are thousands of vacant Saskatchewan Housing Corporation units sitting across the province. Why isn’t the government committing to fixing them? Thank you.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government had a record amount of money invested in last year’s budget to renovate and repair Saskatchewan Housing Corporation homes right across Saskatchewan, whether that’s in Saskatoon, Regina, Weyburn, Meadow Lake, wherever.

This year we’ve seen another increase in the budget allocated to Sask Housing Corporation to not only renovate and repair, but also, you know, work to prioritize individuals to get into those homes.

This opposition tomorrow has a chance to vote on that budget and vote in favour of all these renovations and repairs. We look forward to seeing what they can do.

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