Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Social Services has ordered a shelter in downtown Moose Jaw to be moved out of the city center, much to the surprise of municipal officials.
A press conference hosted by the province, featuring Premier Scott Moe and Justice Minister Tim McLeod, quickly became tense when Moose Jaw Mayor James Murdock announced that he had just learned that the 15-bed Willow Lodge shelter needed to be moved.
“The core and downtown district are vital to the functioning of the city and to improving what we offer in services,” Murdock said. “He [Ministry of Social Services] believes that the best way to achieve this is to move a permanent temporary shelter to an appropriate area.
When asked where a suitable location would be, Murdock said it was a “very good question” and added that he had just been informed of the decision on Wednesday.
McLeod, who is the MLA for Moose Jaw North, confirmed that he and Megan Patterson, MLA for Moose Jaw Wakamow, had received several direct requests to move the shelter out of the city center.
The Willow Lodge shelter opened its doors in early 2024 as part of an effort by the provincial government to address the growing homeless issue in Saskatchewan by opening temporary shelters.
As part of the program, the province would collaborate with municipalities. Municipalities would find a location while the province would fund the spaces, according to McLeod.
“That continues,” McLeod said Wednesday.
The Willow Lodge shelter is operated by the John Howard Society of Saskatchewan, which did not have a representative at Wednesday’s news conference. The organization has not yet responded to a request for comment.
“We are a tourist city”
Alex Carleton, president of the Moose Jaw Downtown Association, confirmed he had just learned of the decision to move the shelter on Wednesday.
“There are a lot of passionate business owners who are worried about their livelihoods and you know we are trying to find ways to be compassionate and work with the people in our community,” Carleton told media.
“We are a tourist city and we want to make sure we are going in the right direction for our businesses as well.”
The Prime Minister insisted this would not reduce services and would, in fact, improve them.
Moe said the province is “unfortunately” in the shelter business because of “poisonous drugs” in the province’s communities.
CBC News has reached out to the Ministry of Social Services to clarify why the decision was made to move the shelter to Moose Jaw and whether it will be the one directing the location of the shelters from now on.
The ministry has not yet responded.
