Saskatoon business leaders say downtown is safe

Two recent, random stabbings in downtown Saskatoon have some people — including the family of one of the victims — wondering whether it’s safe to spend time there.

Downtown YXE executive director Brent Penner and North Saskatoon Business Association executive director Keith Moen believe it is safe.

“I was just downtown for a concert … I was there and again among a mass of people that were exiting the venue that we were at. I felt safe. I felt safe because of the amount of people that were around me, I didn’t have any issues about feeling unsafe, and I ended up walking alone to my vehicle for the last portion of my walk,” said Moen.

Penner said while the stabbings are unfortunate and other shocking incidents happen “from time to time,” they are not limited to just downtown Saskatoon. They occur in other parts of the city, in downtown areas in other cities and across the country.

He believes the failure of provincial and, in particular, federal policies on police enforcement, addictions treatment and mental health resources are contributing to incidents like the one that happened in downtown Saskatoon on May 25.

“A few years back, the federal government made a decision, through the federal prosecutorial service, to essentially no longer charge for illicit drug possession so if someone is ultimately charged, the federal Crown prosecutor when the matter goes to court, walks in the courtroom, tells the judge he or she is going to stay the charge and nothing happens to that individual,” said Penner.

He said that means there’s little to no opportunity for mandatory rehabilitation or treatment options.

“I think another significant issue that we’re seeing is a failure to deal with people who are suffering from obvious mental health issues. Rather than ensure they get into treatment facilities, they’re left to be on the street essentially. It’s wrong and it needs to be treated like a health issue,” he continued.

Moen echoed those sentiments.

“It requires funding, it requires people, it requires the right level of services and I think that these sorts of things are lacking at this time, and I think that those responsibilities fall on the provincial and federal governments. They have a duty to care and I’m not sure that duty is being seen at all levels right now,” he said.

Penner said his organization is contemplating its next step, which could mean working with other groups including various chambers of commerce to lobby the provincial and federal governments for change.

— With files from 650 CKOM’s Libby Geisbrecht