Coun. Blake Edwards says the City of P.A. spends up to $2 million a year on things like homeless camps and social issues. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Susan McNeil

City Hall

Managing social issues like camps costs city millions, says P.A. councillor

Dec 12, 2023 | 4:00 PM

Prince Albert will spend between $1 and $2 million per year dealing with issues like homeless camps, crime and more brought on by use of controlled substances and the resulting addictions.

Coun. Blake Edwards made the comment during Monday’s regular city council meeting as councillors discussed next year’s budget, which included a request by the city police for a $1.5 million increase.

“We know from discussions during budget deliberations, that added garbage cleanup, extra security and items like that are costing almost a million dollars of this budget,” he said.

If the time police spend on the same issues are calculated, that number is closer to two million dollars, Edwards added.

What he would like is to see the province step up and take care of what he says are provincial responsibilities under the constitution.

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“The residents and the businesses of our city are being impacted by paying for something that other levels of government need to manage better,” Edwards said.

The city did not grant the police their request, which would have meant an even larger change in this year’s budget compared to previous years.

During budget deliberations, PAPS presented their budget which included a $1.5 million increase in funding from the city.

Council instead gave them about $750,000, which the police commission said would make it very difficult to offer safe policing levels.

“I hope that the provincial government and the federal government can take note and understand that we need some assistance with this,” Edwards said. “We can’t rely on our residences and businesses to pay this tab; it’s not sustainable and we need that assistance.”

The budget was adopted without the requested change by the police to restore most of their request.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

by Susan McNeil

Managing social issues like camps costs city millions, says P.A. councillor

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