Question Period (5 March 2026)

From Hansard (5 March 2026)

To view this section on video, click here and start play at 10:33:25 AM.

Community Supports and Library Worker Safety

Vicki Mowat: — Just nonsense, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government isn’t listening when it comes to power bills, and they’re ignoring those who are speaking out about safety at libraries.

Yesterday I asked the Minister of Social Services if he would work a shift at the library in downtown Saskatoon to see what workers face day in and day out. The member for Estevan answered for him, but didn’t say when. When will we see the minister working a front-line shift at the downtown library in Saskatoon?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And when it comes to community safety, Mr. Speaker, this is a government that’s made some big investments not only into homelessness but also into the community safety aspect, Mr. Speaker.

On the homelessness front, we began with foundational funding of $40.2 million over two years. In November we added to that with another $20 million. In Saskatoon alone, $23 million is being invested into homelessness services.

That includes outreach services that have been expanded, Mr. Speaker: sawêyihtotân, operated by Saskatoon Tribal Council. We have outreach workers that do attend the different downtown facilities, Mr. Speaker, in Saskatoon, as well as streets up and down Saskatoon.

That’s the work that we’re going to continue to do, Mr. Speaker. And we’re going to continue to make our streets safer, and we’re going to protect the most vulnerable in our society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The following section begins at 10:54:30 AM in the video link provided above.

Measures to Curb Spread of Tuberculosis

April ChiefCalf: — Now, Mr. Speaker, despite the government’s claim that they are investing record amounts of money into homelessness, Saskatoon’s recent point-in-time count showed that there has been a tragic increase in unhoused people in Saskatoon. Over 1,930 individuals, up from the 1,500 people identified in 2024 and from the 550 identified in 2022. One in five are under the age of 24. And we know about the impact that infectious diseases like tuberculosis can have on people who are homeless.

So can the minister please outline what steps the government is taking to protect the increasing number of unhoused people from diseases like tuberculosis? Thank you.

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And when it comes to, you know, individuals that find themselves in that situation, Mr. Speaker, this is a government that’s making tremendous investments not only within social services to address getting people into housing, to also get people into some programming.

We also work with the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. They’re working on additional treatment spaces. Mr. Speaker, this is a government that is putting the people who are most vulnerable, who need the help the most, we’re putting them first in Saskatoon, Regina, and right across this province, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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