The Wall government is fending off opposition criticism that it is exacerbating northern Saskatchewan’s housing shortage.
The northern villages of Île-à-la-Crosse, Buffalo Narrows and La Loche are getting new public housing developments, but not before agreeing to cost-share the projects with the provincial and federal governments.
“Villages are taking on debt because of the government’s decision to drop the ball on affordable housing,” Buckley Belanger, the New Democrat MLA for the northern riding of Athabasca, said in a news release.
The NDP claimed the upcoming developments mark a departure from past practice when the provincial and federal governments would foot the entire bill for such projects.
No change
But Don Allen, Saskatchewan’s assistant deputy minister for housing in social services, denies there has been a change in policy.
“No, this is a continuation of a model that’s been in place for many years – it’s based upon what the tenant brings to the table as well as the province,” Allen told Global News.
The provincial and federal governments recently announced that five new single-family homes would be built in Île-à-la-Crosse.
Through cash, cash and land equity, and mortgage financing, the Northern Village of Île-à-la-Crosse will be on the hook for around $749,000 of the $1.4-million project.
The Northern Village of Buffalo Narrows is contributing over $225,000 for a four-plex to be built at a total cost of around $725,000.
And the Northern Village of La Loche is putting up land and services for two semi-detached homes. A government news release did not mention the value of this contribution, but other sources are providing more than $500,000 for the project.
Belanger took the news as a sign that the province does not understand how badly safe, affordable housing is needed in northern Saskatchewan.
But in an interview with The Reminder, Allen, who is also head of Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC), refuted that suggestion.
He said SHC remains committed to creating affordable housing opportunities in the North.
“We continue to work with our northern partners to find solutions for northern housing,” Allen said. “We have different solutions for different problems.”
Since the start of 2013, SHC has invested over $5.7 million in 44 affordable rental units in northern communities that are either under construction or have been completed, Allen said.
Care home
That said, when it comes to the concept of a personal care home for Creighton, Mayor Bruce Fidler has said his sense is that municipal cash is key.
“It just seems that right now, anyways, the province isn’t funding personal care homes unless you come up with a majority of the money yourself as a community or through fundraising,” Fidler said this past April. “You get put farther up on the list if you do that.”
Fidler said he and town council had not really discussed the concept of fundraising for a much-needed personal care home, but he did not dismiss the idea.
“There’s always lots of options and if that was one and we were able to raise money, I’m sure that it would become a possibility through the government,” he said.
The strong demand for a care home in Creighton has become apparent in recent years as residents join waiting lists to move to either the Personal Care Home or the Northern Lights Manor across the border in Flin Flon.
