MOE HAS LEFT CITIES TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES AMID HOUSING CRISIS, DRUG OVERDOSE EMERGENCY, RISING SEVERE CRIME

SASKATOON — Carla Beck’s team is calling out Scott Moe and the Saskatchewan Party for offloading provincial responsibilities onto municipalities, forcing local residents to absorb rising frontline costs highlighted in a new Saskatoon report.

A report coming to Saskatoon City Council later this week says the cost of addressing homelessness was $4.6 million last year, up from $3.2 million the year before. A large part of that cost comes from response to encampments, which largely falls to the fire department. The Saskatoon Point-in-Time count last year identified 1,931 people experiencing homelessness in the city, up 3.5 times the number counted in 2022.

As well, the same city fire department has recently reported responding to 301 drug-related overdose calls between April 1-19 alone.

“Scott Moe and the Sask. Party have literally abandoned their post — they’ve decided they’re not up for the job, and they’ve stopped trying, if they ever did,” said Erika Ritchie, Shadow Minister for Government Relations. “Record homelessness, 15 or more drug-related overdose calls a day in Saskatoon and not a thing from this government to help.

“It’s time for a government that does its job — not one that walks away.”

The rate of severe crime in Saskatchewan is twice the national average. Moe has continuously made promises to hire more frontline police but produced no evidence after various news conferences of having actual success recruiting officers.

“People in this city and right across the province are desperate,” said April ChiefCalf, Shadow Minister for Housing. “When we talk about investing in the root causes of crimes, we mean housing, treatment, mental health supports. All I see is evidence that the Sask. Party has failed on every front.”

The Sask. Party’s Bill 48, currently before the legislature, fails to invest in housing, treatment spaces or frontline responders. As a result, municipalities will continue to shoulder the burden of encampment response, policing, emergency services, and cleanup — costs that ultimately show up on property tax bills.

“Cities are already stretched thin,” said Erika Ritchie. “Nothing in this legislation reduces the pressure on local governments or the taxpayers who fund them.”

ChiefCalf added, “You can’t mandate care that doesn’t exist — and you can’t download responsibility to cities and call it a solution.”

Carla Beck's team is calling on the government to present a clear, costed plan that includes:

Expanded treatment capacity
New supportive housing units
Real partnership with municipalities

“Taxpayers deserve solutions that work,” Ritchie said. “Unless improved, this bill will mean more of the same — no help from the provincial government, higher property tax bills, and more families left grieving. It’s time for change.”

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