Councillor removed from Saskatoon homelessness subcommittee

A Saskatoon city councillor, known for his opposition to the 106-bed Fairhaven emergency shelter and for speaking out on crime in his community, will not be part of a recently created subcommittee tasked with reaching out to local stakeholders on homelessness in the community or another related group.

During council appointments at its regular Wednesday meeting, Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer put forward two motions to remove Ward 3 Coun. Robert Pearce’s name from the city’s subcommittee on homelessness, and to remove him as the council strategic area lead on housing and homelessness.

He will be replaced by Ward 7 Coun. Holly Kelleher, and Ward 8 Coun. Scott Ford on the subcommittee and by Mayor Cynthia Block as the council lead on housing and homelessness.

Donauer said it’s “no secret” that there’s tension between the city council and the Saskatoon Tribal Council right now.

“And so we determined that perhaps having the mayor sit on that, and take the lead on the homelessness file in Saskatoon would probably be the best for relations right now,” he said.

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Tensions arose during the bear pit session at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) conference on April 16, when Coun. Pearce said nearly three years had passed since the province placed a 106-bed shelter in the community of Fairhaven.

It was a decision that continued to create serious public health, safety, and crime concerns for thousands of people and numerous businesses in Fairhaven, Parkridge, Confederation Park, Confederation Suburban, Pacific Heights, Blairmore, Kensington, and Meadow Green Communities.

He added that two years ago, promises were made that beds would be reduced in this shelter, should another shelter open, while also suggesting that some shelter spaces were not opened “responsibly.”

“Will this government honour their promise to reduce the beds in Fairhaven, now that another shelter has been placed, and will you work with the city in order to find replacement beds for those shelters?”

“And secondly, will you consider replacing the operator, as more successful operators seem to be in place, and seem to be enjoying much more success with the communities around them?” he continued.

Moe responded that the need for shelter spaces in Saskatoon had increased, and the province needed to invest in more shelter capacity first.

“At that point, we would consider reducing the size of that ’cause… we need to have these in a way that is controlled to the degree that they don’t have a significant impact on the neighbourhood,” he said.

Moe added that the province would also continue to work with the Saskatoon Tribal Council and would not consider replacing the organization as the operator of the Fairhaven shelter.

The questions drew nearly immediate pushback from Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand.

“Those types of comments by Coun. Pearce feels like an attack,” Arcand said in a statement.

He also called on Pearce to decide whether he is “part of the team or not” when it comes to addressing homelessness in Saskatoon. Arcand then urged the mayor and the rest of the council to distance themselves from Pearce’s remarks.

“Let’s work together, personal differences aside,” his statement continued. “Let’s make sure we’re helping the public, representing the public and making sure we’re representing all interests of the citizens of Saskatoon.”

Donauer said some fences need to be mended.

“We need to focus on repairing relations with our partner, and I think this is probably the best way to proceed,” he said.

“What we’re hearing from Tribal Chief Arcand is that some of the comments made by councillors over the past week, he perceived it as being an attack on the Saskatoon Tribal Council and I think that has the potential to cause friction between us,” Donauer added.

With STC operating the biggest emergency shelter in the city, Donauer said it was imperative to have cordial relations between the council and the organization.

The STC has since issued a statement indicating support for the council’s actions.

“Homelessness is a community-wide issue in Saskatoon. The only way forward is through cooperation. Unfortunately, Coun. Pearce has shown through past comments that he is not willing to work constructively with STC as a community partner,” said Arcand in the statement.

Donauer added that there would not likely be any other “actions” regarding Coun. Pearce.

“I think Coun. Pearce is going to be a valuable member of the team around the council table. Right now, with the tensions that exist between the council and the tribal council, we need to determine who the best negotiating partner for us is to reach out and have these dialogues with the various stakeholders in the community and that’s all that this is about,” he said.

650 CKOM has reached out to both Coun. Robert Pearce and Mark Arcand for comment. We were told Arcand was not available today or tomorrow and Pearce has not replied to our request.