A Saskatoon City Councilor has been removed from the city’s sub-committee on homelessness.  

Robert Pearce was taken off the committee at today’s Regular Business Meeting of Saskatoon City Council and replaced by councilors Holly Kelleher and Scott Ford.  

Pearce was also removed as Strategic Priority Lead on Housing and Homeless and replaced by Mayor Cynthia Block. 

 Last week during the Bear Pit session at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipality Association Convention, Pearce asked Premier Scott Moe if he would consider reducing the number of beds at the Fairhaven Emergency Wellness Centre, as well as replace the Saskatoon Tribal Council as the shelter’s service provider to one that is more successful. 

Moe responded that he might consider reducing the number of beds but not switching the operator. 

Saskatoon Tribal Council Tribal Chief Mark Arcand responded that for Pearce to make such comments in front of over 1000 delegates from across the province was out of line, and not founded on anything, as the STC has been running the 106-bed shelter efficiently for the last two years. 

The Chief says Pearce’s comments made it obvious that City Council is divided on the city’s homelessness crisis, because just hours after his comments were made, Mayor Cynthia Block called Arcand to thank him for their valued partnership.