Council votes to allow provincial complex needs shelter for 18 months

A marathon city council meeting focused on a single issue for more than six hours Wednesday.

The issue was the provincial government’s decision to open a complex needs shelter on Idylwyld Drive North, in Saskatoon’s Mayfair neighbourhood. Unlike other shelters, this facility would be medically supervised, and clients could only be brought to the shelter by police.

After hearing presentations and concerns expressed by residents, business owners and employees, Saskatoon’s city council voted 10 to one to allow for a development permit to be issued to the provincial government for 18 months.

Council spent more than six hours on the shelter issue, including presentations from a number of community members. (Lara Fominoff/650 CKOM)

A motion brought forward by Coun. Darren Hill requesting that the provincial ministry in charge of the shelter report to the city about its operations at the six- and 12-month marks after it opens passed unanimously, though the province is under no obligation to actually provide those reports.

Ultimately, Hill was the only council member to oppose the motion to grant the shelter’s permit.

During the meeting, it was revealed that the provincial government had its eye on the site as far back as September, unbeknownst to local businesses and residents.

That was confirmed by Leslie Anderson, director of planning and development for the City of Saskatoon.

“We had an initial conversation with the applicant late September, and then received their application on October 20,” she said.

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Anderson said there was a conversation held about informing businesses in the immediate area.

“We advised that that would be something for (the province) to consider, and it was up to them to decide whether they wanted to proceed or not,” she added.

Council heard presentations from nearly a dozen residents or business owners in the immediate area, voicing concerns about the shelter’s proximity to their homes and businesses. A panel of five representatives from the provincial government also attended the meeting.

Hill asked repeatedly what would happen to clients being treated at the shelter after their 24-hour stays expire.

“What is the strategy to address when this spills out into the neighbourhood?” asked Hill.

Mayor Charlie Clark interjected multiple times during Hill’s questioning to address his tone.

“You can ask questions for information, but not venture into debate or necessarily challenging (the speakers),” Clark said.

“I’m just going to encourage you frame your questions looking for information or clarification.”

“I don’t know what’s complicated about my question around the strategy to address the impact to the residential neighbourhood,” replied Hill.

“I’m getting at your tone is what I’m getting at,” said Clark. “I’m asking you to ask your questions respectfully.”

Louise Michaud, a representative from Saskatchewan’s housing ministry, told Hill that discharged clients would be taken to a location of their preference, or to another shelter like The Salvation Army.

Clark told the gallery and council that he understood the concerns and anxiety voiced at the meeting, but noted that the city has been asking the province for more services and help for some time.

“This is a shared responsibility,” he said.

“What is giving me hope now is we have seen a co-ordinated set of interventions from the provincial government that include health, corrections (and) social services, all working together.”

Clark noted there was a lot of tension, concern and pointing fingers in the past when shelters were discussed.

“If one city had the silver bullet answer that would make everybody’s concerns go away, then we would be following exactly that. It doesn’t exist,” he said.

At this point, the provincial government won’t say which third-party service provider will operate the complex needs shelter or when the shelter will actually open its doors.

According Michaud, contracts with the potential service provider are still being worked out.