Demolition of rental units in Regina fueling debate on government housing in Saskatchewan
Some vacant public housing units in north central regina are being demolished. The government says their condition poses a safety risk and removal is the only viable option.
The NDP opposition call’s the decision a symptom of government neglect.
Demolition crews are knocking down the last of over a dozen government rental housing units on Angus St. in North Central Regina.
Some had been damaged by fire. Others were in serious disrepair. Folks who work in area feel it’s unfortunate.
“Disappointing because these were nice houses at one point. If they were looked after properly they would have lasted 50 years or so,” community worker Priscilla English told CTV News.
“This one, I believe they’re knocking them down and they’re not going to put any more up and we’re going to have more and more individuals homeless, experiencing homelessness and on the streets,” worker Chelsea McCallum added.
Evidence of that is right across the alley from the two demolition sites where people are living in tents.
“Yeah I think that the house that they’re tearing down, they should have been renovating them and making single rooms for the ones that have nowhere to go because it’s getting cold and they need to make a little more room for the homeless,” Bobbi Eashappie, who lives in the area, told CTV News.
“They should be taking care of the people more than anything because it’s not just the buildings or the houses, it’s the people that make the house and the home. You know what I mean?” resident Rob Ponace added.
The units being demolished are part of an estimated 3,000 public housing units sitting vacant across the province.
In a pre-election campaign promise, the NDP pledge to renovate 500 units per year and make them available to future tenants.
“We’ll make all vacant provincial housing units available for families within four years by reversing the Sask. Party’s $40 million cut to the renovation budget,” Leader Carla Beck said during an event on Tuesday.
The government currently doesn’t know the number of properties to be demolished this year.
Its written statement made no mention of rebuilding but said the land could be turned over to third party service providers for community use.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Say it to my face': Singh confronts heckling protester on Parliament Hill
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confronted a protester for calling him a 'corrupted bastard' on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.
BREAKING Poilievre's first chance to topple Trudeau government expected next week
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is set to get his first chance to topple Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's minority Liberal government next week, CTV News has confirmed.
Why it's 'very hard' to find work in Canada
Vacancies have steadily fallen since the glut of nearly one million open posts in 2022. At the time, one in three businesses had trouble hiring staff due to a labour shortage. Since then, vacancies have dropped.
Judge orders Sean 'Diddy' Combs jailed in sex trafficking and racketeering charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs presided over a sordid empire of sexual crimes, coercing and abusing women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday.
Hezbollah hit by a wave of exploding pagers and blames Israel. At least 9 dead, thousands injured
Pagers used by hundreds of members of the militant group Hezbollah exploded near simultaneously in Lebanon and Syria on Tuesday, killing at least nine people.
Two people charged in murder of Halifax teen; police believe remains have been found
Halifax Regional Police believe Devon Sinclair Marsman, who disappeared in 2022, was the victim of a homicide and two people have now been charged in his death.
BREAKING Canucks' Dakota Joshua reveals he is recovering from cancer
Vancouver Canucks forward Dakota Joshua revealed Tuesday he underwent cancer treatment over the summer, and will not be ready to play when the team’s training camp begins later this week.
How to prevent lung cancer, regardless of whether you smoke, according to a doctor
More people who have never touched a cigarette are getting lung cancer, but there are ways to prevent it, according to a doctor.
Liberals need to 'redouble efforts' after byelection losses, Trudeau ministers say
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he's going to 'stay focused' on governing after being handed his second byelection upset in recent months, as members of his front bench say they’re 'disappointed' in the party's latest showing at the polls.