Question Period (16 April 2025)

From Hansard (16 April 2025)

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Accessible Accommodation for Moose Jaw Housing Authority Tenant

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, today we are joined by Mr. Randy Hughes. Randy is a stage IV cancer survivor. He is legally blind and requires mobility devices such as a wheelchair and motorized scooter to get around.

Recently Randy was notified that Moose Jaw Housing Authority is kicking him out of his current home. They say, “He is over-housed.” Randy has done nothing wrong, and the Sask Party government is still removing him from his home.

To the minister: how is it acceptable to kick Randy out because he is “over-housed”?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And to Randy, thank you for coming to your legislature today. I appreciate you being here.

With this particular incident, I’m not entirely aware of all the details, but what I can tell you is this: when it comes to individuals that have disabilities and accessibility needs, this is something that we take extremely seriously within our housing portfolio, Mr. Speaker.

I’d be more than happy to meet with Randy following question period this afternoon to learn a little bit more about his situation and put together the pieces with the local housing authority as well as the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

April ChiefCalf: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the minister. I would like to set the record straight. Randy was given two options: move to the fourth floor of High Park Towers or start house hunting in the private sector. And the apartment they have offered him doesn’t even fit his mobility devices.

How on earth is this acceptable to the Sask Party government?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And as I previously indicated, I’d be more than happy to sit down with Randy and discuss the details of this particular case. Again we take accessibility and we take disabilities extremely seriously, and we want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to ensure these individuals are housed in a safe and secure place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, the place they’re trying to relocate Randy into isn’t accessible. It’s on the fourth floor and it’s not big enough to accommodate his scooter. Randy has done nothing wrong. He has not broken any rules and yet the Sask Party government is kicking him out of a perfectly good home, causing him a tremendous amount of stress.

Why would the minister throw a legally blind and disabled cancer survivor out of his home?

Speaker Goudy: — I’m going to mention to the member, mentioning, making personal remarks towards the minister — that that was his actions — is out of line, and I’m going to ask to move to the next question. Next question, please. If she would like to rephrase the question, please.

April ChiefCalf: — Just a reminder that the minister does oversee the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation that is responsible for throwing a legally blind and disabled survivor of cancer out of his home. Thank you.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again I’ll be more than happy to sit down with the individual that’s here today to discuss those details of what’s happening.

And yes, I do take this portfolio extremely seriously, Mr. Speaker, and I continue to have outreach with members of the disability community all the time. So again I’ll be more than happy to sit down and learn more about the details so we can come to a resolution that works for everybody. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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