NDP MLA calls on provincial government to fund Regina warming shelter By Moises Canales
Jan 28, 2021 2:49 PM
A local MLA wants to see the Saskatchewan government provide funding for a warming centre in Regina after it was denied financial support by the province.
Meara Conway, Regina-Elphinstone MLA and NDP social services critic, said Awasiw: A Place of Hope is a warning centre that has been opened in constituency since December. The centre sees hundreds of people come through its doors each day whether it’s finding a meal or needing a place to sleep.
She said traffic at the warming place has ramped up in recent weeks because of frigid temperatures in the Queen City, and Awasiw’s members have approached multiple levels of government to secure funding to assist with its operational costs.
REGINA The Saskatchewan government announced on Monday it will put an end to birth alerts at the beginning of February. The practice saw pregnant women – mostly First Nations – flagged as unfit to care for their newborns before giving birth. This allowed the Ministry of Social Services to be notified when the baby was born, which could lead to the newborn’s apprehension. Minister of Social Services Lori Carr said going forward, the ministry will be working with community partners to find ways to better support expecting parents. “Our ultimate goal is to work a lot closer with our community-based organizations, because sometimes these mothers already have an existing relationship with them, and try to be a little more proactive at the front end so that something like that doesn’t happen within a hospital setting,” said Carr.