‘Feel like an attack’: STC Chief slams city councillor’s call to cut homeless services

WATCH: Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand is speaking out against recent comments made by city councillor Robert Pearce.

Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand is speaking out against recent comments made by city councillor Robert Pearce.

Speaking at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) earlier this week, the Ward 3 councillor suggested a cut the number of beds at the Saskatoon Tribal Council’s (STC) Emergency Wellness Centre and replace the STC as operator.

In an open letter sent to media on Thursday, Arcand said Pearce’s comments “feel like an attack,” and he called on council to distance themselves from Pearce’s remarks.

According to Arcand, homelessness is a community-wide issue that requires a unified response, rather than a neighbourhood problem.

He points out the STC has met its obligations and had its funding agreements with the province renewed annually since opening the facility.

“Let’s work together; personal differences aside. 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,” Arcand said Thursday.

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According to data provided by STC, the 106-bed Emergency Wellness Centre, which has operated in the Fairhaven neighbourhood since December 2022, has served 4,969 people and helped 370 individuals find long-term housing between April 2023 and December 2024.

The city’s most recent Point-in-Time count shows that nearly 1,500 people in Saskatoon are homeless, and, according to Arcand, more than 80 per cent of them identify as Indigenous.

Arcand says this highlights the need for culturally appropriate services delivered by Indigenous organizations.

“When we work together, we have success, we’ve got to lift each other up and champion each other,” Arcand said.

He says the province remains committed to its partnership with the tribal council and has no plans to reduce shelter beds.