“We certainly don’t want to have individuals in a precarious health situation, particularly with children.”
Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky says concerns raised by two mothers referred to Regina’s Coachman Motor Inn by the ministry “should be taken very seriously.”
Phionna Cleland and Sheena Lagimodiere both sought emergency shelter through the ministry and recently told the Leader-Post that after voicing health concerns over the conditions of the motel, they were not offered alternative accommodations.
While he couldn’t speak to those specific cases, in which the mothers said they experienced what appeared to be bed bugs, bloodstained sheets, used needles left in one of the rooms and more, Makowsky said the Ministry of Social Services (MSS) should make “every effort” to accommodate clients.
“We would want to have a situation where somebody is in a safe and clean environment in their stays,” he said during after an unrelated announcement Tuesday morning.
“We certainly don’t want to have individuals in a precarious health situation, particularly with children.”
A statement from the MSS last week said “if a client has a health or safety concern regarding a hotel room that we have secured, we will secure alternate accommodations.”
But according to Lagimodiere, who had her four children with her, she was told that if she didn’t take the accommodations she was offered, the ministry “could refuse” to help her further.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has confirmed it received a complaint related to the motel on July 11 and is “investigating to determine the extent of any public health concerns.”
When asked about the SHA investigation, Makowsky said the ministry and staff would want “to have an understanding of what was going on, in whatever community it might be and try to make different arrangements so people are in healthy and safe environments.”
He added that within the MSS “there isn’t an inspection unit that goes out to hotels or wherever there might be vulnerable people. We rely on if they’re open and if they meet the health and safety requirements.”
In her attempt to find different shelter for her family, Lagimodiere sought help from Child Protection Services, which is administered through social services, but typically accessed in cases of child abuse and neglect. Lagimodiere said going to that branch of the ministry carried with it considerable stigma.
“It’s something the ministry might look at in this case,” said Makowsky when asked if that outcome was the result of a policy failure within his ministry.
Makowsky was speaking Tuesday morning from a sod-turning for six new Regina Housing Authority (RHA) units, set to be built by March 2025.
The RHA said the build was possible through provincial and federal funding to the tune of $2.1 million split evenly. The larger units will have six bedrooms and two bathrooms to better accommodate the needs of those seeking RHA units.
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