City asks for meeting on Park Street services, but P.E.I. housing minister says it's pointless

The City of Charlottetown wants more details on the province's long-term plan for services within its boundaries directed at those facing homelessness, but Prince Edward Island's housing minister says he doesn't know what such a meeting would accomplish. 

Steven Myers and the city have been at odds about the location of an emergency overnight shelter and the Community Outreach Centre, which currently sit at 15 Park St. in Charlottetown's southeast end.

In late April, Mayor Philip Brown sent a letter to Myers asking for a meeting to discuss what's going to happen with the services. 

"From a planning perspective, we stand by our decision in rejecting the province's proposed amendment to [the] Zoning and Development Bylaw that would allow the continued operation of the shelter and centre," Brown wrote in the letter. 

"However, since the province has affirmed its intention to continue operations at the Park Street site through changes to the Planning Act, it's vital that the city and the province work together toward long-term solutions to support individuals with complex social service needs in appropriate community settings." 

Back in March, Charlottetown council voted to reject the province's request for a zoning change that would have allowed the shelter and outreach centre to remain on Park Street.

Two days later, Myers said that vote didn't matter: The province would set up a special planning zone in the area that would allow both operations to stay in place, effectively overriding council's decision. 

The mayor could say 'Put it on the moon,' and I could care less what he thinks.— Steven Myers, P.E.I.'s housing minister

On Friday, the housing minister told CBC News there have been several meetings between the province and city, so he's not sure what's left to discuss. 

"I don't know what would be accomplished in a meeting. We have a minister's task force on housing that the mayor was invited to be a part of and he decided he didn't want to be part of it, so he's had lots of opportunity to be a willing part of this," Myers said. 

"I'm not really sure where this would come from at this point, after being such a negative force on such a positive solution." 

WATCH | 'I could care less what he thinks': Myers dismisses Charlottetown mayor's opinions on Park Street:

'I could care less what he thinks': Myers dismisses Charlottetown mayor's opinions on Park Street

12 hours ago

Duration 1:58

The City of Charlottetown wants to meet with P.E.I. Housing Minister Steven Myers about the provincial emergency shelter and outreach centre located on Park Street, but Myers doesn’t think that’s necessary. He says the province has bought some homes in the area and the plan is to turn them into social housing. CBC's Tony Davis reports.

The mayor has suggested Acadian Drive near the Queen Elizabeth Hospital as a possible location for the services. 

On Friday, Myers made it clear that he's not taking any suggestions. 

"The mayor could say 'Put it on the moon,' and I could care less what he thinks." 

In the meantime, the province has been buying up some properties near Park Street, and those homes might be turned into social housing.

The province's long-term plan to help fight homelessness is to transition to a model that involves providing stable housing first, then incorporating support services.

Myers says the province hopes to do that starting with 24 units in Charlottetown later this year. 

"We think that when that happens, the sheltering need will lower a lot," he said. 

"Some of our long-term tenants… the ones that come every night and we know are participating and trying to work inside our system to get on a better track, we think we can put them in a better housing situation."