Question Period (28 October 2026)

From Hansard (28 October 2026)

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Addressing Homelessness

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, in Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert, encampments have sprung up because of this government’s choices. It was this entitled and out-of-touch government that decided to end direct payment of rent and utilities for folks on social assistance, leading to countless evictions and creating the encampment crisis we see today across the province.

Will the Minister for Social Services finally admit it was a mistake to end direct payments? And will he take responsibility for the crisis the Sask Party government created?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When it comes to the SIS [Saskatchewan income support] program and the SAID [Saskatchewan assured income for disability] program, when it comes to direct pay to things like landlords and utilities and things like that, that actually does exist right now as does trusteeship for individuals who want trusteeship or who are very difficult to house, Mr. Speaker.

This is a government that wants to make sure that we’re putting individuals and families who are able to better themselves, they want to be independent, they want to grow and live their best lives . . . So we enable those individuals to be able to do things like pay their rent, pay their utilities, budget accordingly. And this is something that’s working, Mr. Speaker.

Like I said, when it comes to direct pay, this is something that the ministry has always offered, Mr. Speaker. They also offer trusteeship for individuals who want extended services such as money management and other services that can be done like that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

 

April ChiefCalf: — Mr. Speaker, this minister and this entitled and out-of-touch government just don’t get it. Housing is a provincial responsibility. Mental health and addictions is a provincial responsibility. And social services is a provincial responsibility.

Now fire chiefs and mayors shouldn’t have to deal with the challenges of encampments caused by the Sask Party’s choices. Again when will this minister take responsibility for the encampments created by his government in communities large and small?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. And, as we all know, homelessness is an extremely complex and a very complex issue, and it’s one that this government takes seriously as do, I would be certain, every government around this nation. Municipalities play a lead role when it comes to encampments. The encampments, they fall under municipal bylaws, Mr. Speaker.

Yesterday the Regina fire department determined that the encampment in Regina was no longer safe. There had been fires; there had been an explosion, Mr. Speaker. The Regina fire department took action and removed that encampment.

Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Social Services, along with Indigenous partners, along with community-based organizations, we were lined up dealing with the people that were coming out of that encampment to provide services, to be able to provide shelters, and to be able to navigate them towards the supports they need so that they can get back their life. And we are going to be working with every one of those individuals who wants that assistance, Mr. Speaker.

 

Nicole Sarauer: — Mr. Speaker, the encampment that was in Pepsi Park was in my constituency. It stood for more than 100 days. I represent the people living there, and I represent the community groups and local businesses in the area that were facing the impacts.

This entitled and out-of-touch government’s choices are what created this encampment. And this government’s failures are what the city and the community have been forced to deal with and are continuing to have to deal with. That government has provided nothing for resources for those people who have been displaced.

Mr. Speaker, what does the Minister of Social Services say to my constituents who are directly impacted by the homeless crisis this government has created? And what’s the plan to actually get housing and supports to the people who were in Pepsi Park?

Hon. Terry Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. And I’ll reiterate how serious this government takes this issue. This is not something that’s easy. This is something that is affecting more than just Regina. It’s also Saskatoon, Prince Albert, and other centres.

Mr. Speaker, we had income assistance workers, we had housing workers, we had community-based organizations on site last night until the evening hours working with those individuals, getting them into the income assistance program, navigating them to supports so that we can work with those individuals, so that we can get them into recovery, we can get them into supportive housing, we can work with Regina Housing Authority to house people who are ready for housing, Mr. Speaker.

This is work that I am so appreciative of the ministry, of the community-based organizations and our Indigenous partners right across Regina and I would say right across Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker. This is work that will continue.

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