(Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Collaborative approach

Council creates new group to address social issues in downtown P.A.

May 27, 2021 | 3:22 PM

Prince Albert city council is forming a new working group to tackle social issues in the downtown including homelessness, addiction, and hunger.

Representatives from the government, First Nations, service providers, and the business community will be invited as members.

Coun. Blake Edwards, who brought the idea for the new working group to council, said he hopes it will increase communication and cooperation among the different parties.

“There’s lots of organizations working on similar issues,” Coun. Blake Edwards, told Monday night’s meeting. “The problem is many of them aren’t working together and there’s a lack of communication.”

He said it’s especially important members of federal and provincial government attend so they can see the unique challenges Prince Albert is facing.

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“We’re dealing with some issues that many other cities, they’re dealing with some, but not like Prince Albert [is],” he said.

In the last year, the City of Prince Albert has faced criticism for their attempts to address safety concerns downtown, including removing all benches from the bus transfer station and erecting a fence around the Margo Fournier Centre lawn. Both decisions were later reversed.

Edward’s idea received an enthusiastic reception from his colleagues, who approved the creation of the new working group in a unanimous vote.

“I’m very excited to support this motion and to do the much-needed work that this committee can achieve,” Coun. Tony Head said.

The format or dates of the group’s meetings has not been decided.

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alison.sandstrom@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alisandstrom