Councillor says his removal from homelessness subcommittee was ‘best thing for the city’

Saskatoon’s Ward 3 councillor Robert Pearce is speaking out on social media after he was removed from a city subcommittee created to reach out to local stakeholders on homelessness.

On Wednesday, Pearce stated that his removal from the subcommittee was “the best thing” for himself, his ward and the city.

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Pearce has been vocal about issues around crime in his ward and his opposition to the 106-bed emergency shelter operated in Fairhaven by the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

During a council meeting earlier this month, Ward 5’s Randy Donauer put forward motions to remove Pearce from the city’s subcommittee on homelessness, and to remove him as council’s strategic area lead on housing and homelessness.

In his social media posts, Pearce addressed the tensions that arose during the “bear pit” session at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association conference on April 16.

During the session, Pearce said nearly three years have passed since the opening of the Fairhaven shelter, and said promises were made that the number of beds would be reduced if another shelter opened. He suggested that some shelter spaces were not opened “responsibly.”

“In being placed as the lead for Housing and Homelessness, I had a responsibility to create a collaborative environment and my prepared question for SUMA was along those lines,” Pearce wrote.

“With only a few seconds on the clock, my question was condensed and did the opposite. As such, I have to accept responsibility as the question I spoke allowed this situation to be created, and it put Council under immense pressure to act.

“It is quite clear now that being in that position was going to create times where I might feel unable to do my primary responsibility, which is to represent the amazing people of Ward 3, and right now Ward 3 needs more voices speaking for them, not less,” he wrote.

Pearce said it is difficult as a city councillor to advocate for his constituents while also helping with the city’s needs.

“We need to find a way forward together that is constructive, healing and restorative for the Ward, the Homeless and the City,” he said.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council released a statement supporting council’s decision to remove Pearce.

“Homelessness is a community-wide issue in Saskatoon. The only way forward is through cooperation. Unfortunately, Coun. Pearce has shown through past comments that he is not willing to work constructively with STC as a community partner,” Tribal Chief Mark Arcand said in the statement.

On social media on Thursday, Pearce extended an offer to meet with Arcand privately, any time he wishes, though the councillor went on to say he has “no intention of engaging with the media any further” on the topic.

“What is done is done, and it’s time for real discussion on the issues so healing can take place for all involved,” Pearce wrote.

650 CKOM has reached out to Pearce multiple times for comment, without success.

–with files from 650 CKOM’s Lara Fominoff