CARLA BECK’S TEAM DEMANDS SASK. PARTY MINISTERS VISIT SASKATOON’S OVERRUN 20TH STREET CORRIDOR TO SEE IMPACT OF DRUG CRISIS FIRSTHAND

Carr, Jenson Challenged To Meet Frontline Workers, Witness Consequences Of Government's Failures
SASKATOON – Carla Beck’s team is challenging Mental Health & Addictions Minister Lori Carr and Social Services Minister Terry Jenson to visit Saskatoon's overrun 20th Street corridor immediately. Frontline workers say the area has become an epicentre of an unprecedented drug crisis, while the Sask. Party government continues to fail in taking any meaningful action.

In a letter sent to both ministers, Erika Ritchie, Shadow Minister for Government Relations & Social Services, and April ChiefCalf, Shadow Minister for Housing, call on Carr and Jenson to visit the corridor themselves and speak directly with the people and organizations dealing with the crisis every day.
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"If these ministers truly believe they're doing enough, they should come to Saskatoon and see the reality for themselves," Ritchie said. "Talk to the exhausted frontline workers. Talk to the emergency responders. Talk to the vulnerable people who are being failed every day. It's time they stop managing this crisis from behind a desk and witness the consequences of their decisions — of this government’s failures.”

The letter says conditions have deteriorated significantly since the Sask. Party's decision to cut funding to Prairie Harm Reduction, forcing the organization to close its doors and pulling more than 100 critically needed workers off the frontlines.

Saskatoon firefighters have made multiple public appeals for more resources as they grapple with hundreds of drug overdose calls every month.

"The people on the frontline are tired of Sask. Party photo ops and fancy talking points — they're asking this government to listen and provide emergency resources," ChiefCalf said. "Nothing done to date has come even close to the leadership we need in this moment.

“Instead, municipalities, charities and community organizations are being left to pick up the pieces while the province downloads more and more responsibility onto them."

The letter also raises concerns about the financial burden being placed on the City of Saskatoon as provincial services fail to keep pace with the crisis.

While provincial ambulance services can bill overdose responses to the province, the Saskatoon Fire Department cannot, creating what Ritchie and ChiefCalf describe as an arbitrary and counterproductive funding system. Municipal leaders across Saskatchewan have repeatedly called on the province to address these funding inequities.

"There are solutions available, but they begin with this government acknowledging the scale of this crisis," Ritchie said. "That starts with Ministers Carr and Minister Jenson coming to Saskatoon, seeing what's happening with their own eyes and listening to the people who have been sounding the alarm for months — my colleagues and I are happy to tour them around ourselves.”

"We hope they accept," ChiefCalf added. "Because Saskatchewan people deserve ministers who are willing to show up, listen and finally act.

“It’s time for change — peoples’ lives and the future of our community depends on it.”

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