Saskatoon Tribal Council chief says new safety measures will make proposed downtown shelter 'look like a jail'

The chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) compares newly announced safety plans for the city's proposed downtown shelter to a jail, which he says will perpetuate "a paternalistic" and "colonial way of doing business."

The proposed "enhanced emergency shelter," to be located at 210 Pacific Ave., would have 30 to 40 beds and offer 24-hour access and three meals a day to clients, along with support for addictions, mental health, and wellness, and services to help them transition to long-term housing.

It is to be run by the Mustard Seed, a faith-based organization that runs similar facilities in other cities.

Chief Mark Arcand told reporters Tuesday morning that he disagrees with the city's plan to put up a chain link fence around the facility.

"We don't need that facility to look like a jail facility to keep people in and out. The best way to do this is to have hope for people and make trust," he said. "That's a bad recommendation."

The city said Friday that after community consultation, it now plans for the provincially funded shelter to have safety measures including:

• A chain-link fence around the building, ensuring no access off Pacific Avenue. 

• Access to the facility from Ontario Avenue only.

• Seven-day per week extended-hour security and support dedicated to the downtown, with a focus on the vicinity around the proposed shelter.

Not reconciliation: STC

Arcand said the plan will "basically lock people up in a jail setting."

"Not acceptable. Our people have been institutionalized their whole lives. It's just not good reconciliation."

Arcand also said STC deserves the same treatment at its shelter in the Fairhaven neighbourhood as the proposed downtown shelter, which he said is receiving special treatment.

"They're promising everything to this 210 location. So how come they're not doing the same thing to Salvation Army and to our emergency wellness centre? So I'm really concerned about it," he said.

"It should be the province providing this for everybody."

The Ministry of Social Services said in a statement that the provincial operational funding for emergency shelters is consistent across service providers, and based on the number and type of spaces they provide.

"This funding provides for costs the operator may have to provide security on the emergency shelter property," the statement said.

Arcand said the latest development further demonstrates that the Mustard Seed does not have a "First Nations people priority." 

Some security needed: Salvation Army

The executive director at Salvation Army in Saskatoon says newly announced safety plans for the city's proposed downtown shelter are a good idea.

"Some security is needed. That's been our experience here and I know other shelters in town experiencing some of the same challenges we have that some form of security is certainly helpful," Taylor said.

Taylor said that, in addition to the internal staff, the Salvation Army's shelter has a security guard on each shift at all times.

He said its shelter space has a fence around the parking lot and a gate that gets closed at night to restrict traffic going in and out.

"It's helpful that way, but it's more because we have vehicles that we don't want people hanging around in the way of the vehicles."

Taylor said there is "a small number of people in the community" who cause trouble around the shelter.

He said its important for the city needs to properly consult with people in a neighbourhood before deciding the location of a shelter.

"We have a great relationship with the people living in the condos across the street. We're in communication with them all the time and we try to work together to find creative solutions," Taylor said.

"So any new shelter needs to establish those relationships with their neighborhood as well and work together."

CBC spoke with one business operator in the vicinity who said it's reassuring to see increased safety plans, but that there should have been better consultation.

Saskatoon mayoral candidate Cynthia Block, who is currently the city councillor for Ward 6, where the proposed shelter would be located, said at a campaign event Monday that she was encouraged by the changes.

"I was happy to see that administration was going to work proactively to make sure there was a security plan," she said.

"Every neighborhood should feel safe. No parent should worry about their child going out to play in the park, and we should be able to jump on a bus and feel very comfortable."

Gord Wyant, another mayoral candidate, said in a statement Tuesday that he would not approve any new shelter locations without first establishing a "solid framework."

"We need shelters, but we also need a plan that builds safe streets and renews trust with our communities," Wyant's statement said.

Don Atchison, another contender, said in a statement Monday that he doesn't want any new shelters built, and that the city needs to focus on things like mental health and addictions.

Candidate Cary Tarasoff says on his website that the province should be building modular shelters in the north end.