The Emergency Wellness Centre in Fairhaven, operated by the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), is back in the news following a Thursday social media post from a pastor at a nearby Baptist Church.

Robert Pearce has written a letter to Premier Scott Moe asking that the Emergency Wellness Centre be closed.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council, which operates the Centre, held a news conference a few hours later to defend its work assisting homeless people.
STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand says the Emergency Wellness Centre houses 106 people and then there are additional facilities and services.

While admitting there was a drug problem this summer at the Centre, Chief Arcand says the situation has improved over the past three months.

Pearce says promises were made about the shelter, including services which were never delivered. Chief Arcand agrees the Emergency Wellness Centre is underfunded for its current needs—-but credits the provincial government for providing $4.2 million in operating costs.

The Saskatoon Tribal Council is currently in negotiations with the provincial government to renew the lease on the facility at 410 Fairmont Drive. That lease expires on March 31st.

A portion of the STC news release is below: