SASKATOON — Saskatoon Centre MLA Betty Nippi-Albright is calling for more resources to be allocated to organizations and other non-profit groups following Prairie Harm Reduction’s closure. PHR board vice-chair Brady Knight announced on Thursday, April 9, that it will cease operations.
Knight said he expects community groups in the city and the province’s Social Services Ministry to pick up where they left off, to ensure individuals who are availing themselves of their services continue to receive help.
PHR ended its operations due to financial strain and needed to let go of executive director Kayla DeMong and close its consumption facility in late March.
Nippi-Albright, the Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, said she expects other non-profit and community volunteer groups to feel the strain brought by PHR’s closure, since they will now be shouldering the services PHR provides.
“My office gets calls a lot, and even my colleagues about the pressures. Many organizations are already at capacity. They're struggling. Emergency services for mental health and addiction have asked for increased dollars from the budget,” said Nippi-Albright during a media availability on Friday, April 10.
However, she added that they received $0, with the Saskatoon Police Service's Police and Crisis Team also asking for additional funding to meet the growing demand for responses to mental health and addiction incidents.
PACT officers are paired with mental health professionals as they respond to scenes where an individual is experiencing mental health issues and addiction crises. They focus more on de-escalation to convince the individual to get help rather than being arrested.
Aside from Saskatoon, PACT currently operate in Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Estevan, Yorkton and North Battleford.
“They've received 0 in this budget. The health buses that provide services in this community have also asked for increased funding, but they've received none. What’s the impact of this closure? There's going to be increased pressure on our emergency rooms and our community services,” added Nippi-Albright.
She has also expressed concerns about the well-being of frontline workers who assist individuals with their various needs, especially as the city experiences a homelessness crisis, with almost 2,000 people either living on the streets or staying in temporary shelters.
“The staff, we already know that many are young people feeling burnt out, exhausted, and are dealing with their own mental health. What is the government doing to provide support for those frontline workers out there who are doing the good work? There is no support out there,” she added.
“This is a crisis. This is an emergency that needs attention today. The government needs to provide daily briefings. They need to provide an emergency plan, and they need to let the public know what is happening and what they are going to do.”
Nippi-Albright, who previously worked as an addiction recovery counsellor, said she won’t speculate on whether PHR’s closure could have been prevented. However, she said the government has decreased funding for services for mental health and addictions.
PHR is more than a safe consumption site, with some of its funds also supporting a drop-in and outreach centre that provides a safe space, offers basic needs, community support, and education, and operates a semi-independent residence for youth aged 16 to 21.
Government assured continued support
The provincial government said that the Health Ministry and the Saskatchewan Health Authority will continue to work with community partners to ensure supports remain available following the closure.
“Access to Naloxone remains strong. Take‑home Naloxone continues to be widely available, with 176 locations in the Saskatoon area providing this life‑saving medication,” said the government’s statement.
The government clarified that it has not funded PHR’s supervised consumption site, only its outreach, peer support, education, and naloxone distribution.
The government added that, despite PHR’s other programs affected by the closure, it will continue to invest in a care system focused on treatment, support, and recovery.
The statement said that both the Health and Social Services ministries ended funding PHR due to financial oversight concerns. Funds given to PHR this month were in accordance with the contract terms.
The government said it has increased investment in health and social services, as evidenced by a combined $10.16B health and social services budget, with health at $8.47B.
“[The budget] demonstrates a continued commitment to care for those most in need,” added the government in the statement.
“Funding in mental health and addictions supports has increased to $674 million, focused on treatment capacity, recovery supports, and easier system navigation.”
The government said that annual deaths caused by drug toxicity declined by 28 per cent since implementing the Action Plan for Mental Health and Addictions.
The proposed Compassionate Intervention Act will also continue to strengthen the province’s ability to help individuals who cannot seek treatment on their own.
The government added that the SPS will also be receiving $7.96 million to fund 54 positions through the Municipal Police Grants Program, while ongoing investments are planned for PACT.
SEIU West statement
The Service Employees International Union West, which represents more than 13,000 health-care workers in the province, said PHR’s closure is a blow to Saskatchewan, including to the almost 100 workers who have lost their jobs.
SEIU West, in a statement, said the support provided by PHR’s frontline workers extends beyond the safe consumption site, as PHR also operated housing and support services for youth and adults, as well as education and community outreach services.
“Overnight, hundreds of Saskatchewan residents are losing the life-saving support services they have relied on. The Family Support division of PHR alone supported approximately 400 Saskatchewan families every quarter in 2025,” said SEIU West.
The closure was heartbreaking for an unnamed PHR family support worker. “We’re grieving the loss of more than our jobs. It’s a close-knit community of staff, and we build relationships with the people who access services and the community. There have been a lot of tears.”
SEIU West director of organizing Graham Mitchell blamed the provincial government for pulling PHR’s funding, leaving hundreds of people without support, and said an already-stressed system and burnout among frontline workers will soon feel the impact of PHR’s closure.
