Federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser announced after 8 p.m. that he and Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon discussed a deal over the phone
Alberta and Canada’s federal government reached an agreement that will see both authorities spend more money to respond to homeless encampments in the province.
“Minister Nixon communicated the Government of Alberta’s continued willingness to partner with the federal government and to cost-match the additional federal funding to address encampments and unsheltered homelessness,” Fraser stated.
“The Ministers have directed their respective officials to meet in the coming days and to negotiate a deal which would see this funding go to communities on an urgent basis.”
Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek responded to this news late Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter.
“The matched funding by the province is equally welcomed. Thank you both,” she wrote. “With the funding being offered by Minister Fraser & Minister Nixon, we can continue the life-saving work the City of Calgary does related to encampments, mental health and addictions, drug poisoning response and affordable housing.”
Late Tuesday, Fraser announced publicly that Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario had not formally responded to a letter from his office asking to partner with the federal government and receive a portion of $250 million if provinces match funding. Instead, the housing minister said his office would work directly with municipalities in those cities if their provincial governments were not willing.
But Nixon contested Fraser’s claims, saying the province didn’t accept or reject any offer of money and he wasn’t aware of a deadline to respond to that letter.
Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said earlier in the day Wednesday he hoped the province and federal government can work out an agreement to get help for vulnerable people in the city. To that point, he said neither level of government was doing enough to respond to the rise in people living, and dying, outdoors.
More to come…