REGINA, Sask. — News that the homeless encampment at Pepsi Park was being dismantled by Regina Fire and Protective Services made waves at the legislature on the day of the Speech from the Throne.
Politicians were peppered with questions from reporters about how the province should respond to the situation at Pepsi Park, with the dismantling going on while the first day of the legislature's session was getting under way.
One MLA did not even wait for those reporters' questions: the NDP's April ChiefCalf immediately issued a news release raising concerns.
“We are hearing reports here in Regina that the local encampment at Pepsi Park is being dismantled,” ChiefCalf stated. “As I have said previously, taking down the tents does not end homelessness – it only pushes people into even more precarious and dangerous situations.
“The provincial government has a responsibility to act. As temperatures drop, their inaction isn’t just negligence, it puts lives at risk… We cannot keep leaving this crisis for municipalities and community-based organizations to manage alone. People need safe, stable places to go, and encampments will continue to appear until the provincial government takes meaningful, proactive steps.”
When asked about the situation at a news conference Tuesday, Opposition Leader Carla Beck pointed to social media reports that some city councillors were putting forward “some tangible steps that could be taken.” Her understanding was that they would be meeting with Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson that day.
“So we'd expect to see some action, some urgent action from the provincial government, from the Minister, particularly given that these frontline leaders… these local leaders, have identified tangible things that can be done.”
Minister Jenson confirmed to reporters later that he had spoken to Mayor Chad Bachynski and had been informed that Regina Fire has “gone in and has started the process of taking [the encampment] down.”
As for the province’s response, Jenson said their role as a government is “to be there to support the City of Regina by having our mobile income assistance outreach teams on site, as well as our housing provider people. And beyond that, helping the City of Regina wherever possible with whatever services we can offer to ensure that the people in that encampment have a place to go.”
Jenson said different options were being offered to get those at the encampment into housing, and other community partners were involved in that as well. He told reporters that every individual coming out of that encampment is being offered services and a place to go.
“They're also being asked the question, do you have a place to go? And if they have a place to go, they may offer that over taking a service from us.”
Jenson said those services and supports will continue to be offered as the individuals leave that encampment.
As for the potential for conversations with both Regina and Saskatoon about new supports or more supports, Jenson had this to say:
“When it comes to the cities of not only Saskatoon and Regina, but I would also say Prince Albert, the Battlefords, other centres as well, these are ongoing conversations that we're having.”
He called this an issue that is evolving, noting circumstances change and that “different cities have different landscapes, so to speak.”
“So these are conversations that I'm having on an ongoing basis, as is Minister (Lori) Carr, working with the groups that deal with mental health and addictions.”
Jenson said the government has been “working extremely hard on this file, and we're going to continue to do that in collaboration, not only with the cities, but also with our Indigenous partners, along with our community-based organizations, the federal government as well.”
Jenson added that it is “really about coordination now.” He said they have the infrastructure built out in terms of shelter spaces, warming centres and cold-weather responses from the municipalities, but “now it's really about coordination of what is out there for these individuals to help them get on to the best path to be successfully supported in times of need.”
As for whether there is the potential for more funding for more shelter spaces in Regina and Saskatoon, Jenson said these are conversations he is having with Mayor Bachynski and the city council.
“In fact, we just met yesterday, and having more discussions about what do we have for capacity and what do we have for entry points for individuals that have different needs.”
Mayor Bachynski was at the legislature for the Speech from the Throne. Speaking to reporters, Bachynski supported the decision to bring down the encampment, pointing to the fire department’s concerns about the fire risk and some incidents on site there.
The fire department “made the determination that we had to close up the encampment due to the safety risk and the imminent danger to people's lives, frankly, which I support. I mean, our Fire Chief and his team are the experts and we have to listen to their advice.”
As for next steps for those individuals affected, Bachynski noted that the jurisdiction for “housing, mental health and addictions, social services, healthcare — these are all provincial jurisdictions.”
“You know, for us, we've been supporting trying to navigate people where we can. What I would say is there hasn't been the space available to navigate people out of that camp. We had 60-plus people who… are now going to be displaced into the community, who need a place to go, who wanted a place to go and we were working with the province to try and open up some kind of space, whether it's a triage space, a transitional space, something so people could get out of the encampment, out of the elements and into somewhere where they can then navigate people to where they need to go.”
Bachynski said those discussions are ongoing.
“I submitted a request formally to the province at the end of September and they are still ongoing. I think we're, we are making headway, but again… this just demonstrates the urgency that we need space for people to go.”
Bachynski also said he was having conversations that day at the legislature with people on the provincial level.
“Absolutely. I've been, I've had a number of conversations today already with folks and ultimately driving home the need for space, for shelter, for housing, for space for people to go. So… it's ongoing and I can't reiterate the urgency that we need space for people, not just at that encampment that had to be closed down today.”
The key elements needed, Bachynski said, were an indoor space with basic amenities, support from community organizations that worked with some of those in the encampment, and facilities to go with that. Bachynski reiterated that the city is not the housing provider but said officials are “trying to demonstrate that we want to be a collaborative partner.”
He admitted it has been frustrating.
“I mean, this has been, you know, all summer we've had, escalating in through the encampment and people have needed places to go. It is frustrating. I mean, at the end of the day, we have essentially Police, Fire, our community safety and wellbeing team, our outreach, our outreach folks from our encampment response team. You know, that's what we have available to us. We can only get folks as far as to say we know who they are, what their needs are. But if we don't have somewhere for them to go, that's as far as we have the resources to provide.
“So it is frustrating that we don't have that currently. I will continue to be pushing that we need that urgently. We need it now.”
