Regina city council declines to declare a 'houselessness crisis'

Wednesday's city council meeting ended with shouting and threats to clear the public gallery amid a heated debate on how to address homelessness in Regina. 

One person was removed and a dozen more left while loudly condemning council once it became clear a majority of the city government would vote to not declare a "houselessness crisis" in Regina

"The blood is on your hands, Sandra," one person shouted to Mayor Sandra Masters as they walked out. 

The declaration would have only been a symbolic gesture — but it was voted down in a vote of 2 to 6.

Ward 1 Coun. Cheryl Stadnichuk and Ward 8 Coun. Shanon Zachidniak were the only affirmative votes. 

"Voting against the motion does not demonstrate that we believe this is a crisis," said Zachidniak, urging councillors to find common ground. 

In comments made after the meeting, Masters disagreed. 

"The motion itself, if I were to summarize councillors' comments, was performative and we have a plan to end homelessness," said Masters, who voted against the motion. 

The debate once again highlighted the rift on council between the councillors who say they are doing a great deal to tackle homelessness — even if some of it remains confidential and out of the immediate eye of the public — and those councillors who say there needs to be a comprehensive plan that shows the city is responding to concerns they are not doing enough to address the issue. 

"It's not the case that nothing is being done," said Ward 2 Coun. Bob Hawkins. 

Hawkins, Masters and Ward 4 Coun. Lori Bresciani repeatedly pointed to  $7.15 million the City of Regina spends annually to address homelessness, on things like harm reduction, tax exemptions for organizations, an emergency homelessness city and a heating bus. 

The motion that would've declared a "houselessness crisis" in the city was put forward by Stadnichuk, Ward 3 Coun. Andrew Stevens, Ward 6 Coun. Dan LeBlanc and Zachidniak.

But an amendment put forward by Hawkins effectively removed the motion's teeth, as it referred all financial proposal — including a long-term commitment from the city to address homelessness as well as the creation of a plan to ensure all residents have temporary shelter or warming space — to the city's budget deliberation process. 

Every other part of the motion was then voted down by the majority of council, including a call for the city to urge the provincial and federal governments to contribute emergency funding to address the crisis of homelessness, the creation of safety guidelines for encampments and a rule that encampments only be dismantled if there is a documented pattern of unwillingness from camp organizers to address multiple safety concerns.