SASKATOON — The ongoing feud between Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand and Ward 2 Coun. Robert Pearce began when plans to relocate the emergency wellness centre to the Fairhaven neighbourhood became public more than two years ago.
Pearce, pastor of Fairmont Baptist Church and elected to city council in November last year, has been a vocal critic of the wellness centre. He has led efforts to relocate the facility, blaming the 106-bed emergency shelter for a rise in crime and disturbances since it opened in December 2022.
The first-term councillor even raised the issue with Premier Scott Moe, asking him to consider replacing the STC with a different operator for the wellness centre, during a bear pit session at the recent Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention, held at TCU Place.
"I'm a little bit disappointed that he's trying to blame me for all of this stuff, including his comments at SUMA and everything else, when I had nothing to do with this. I've been quiet for the last five months since I was re-elected in October. I continue to do our work and be out there trying to help people. It's a concern to me when people don't take responsibility,” said Arcand during a media briefing on May 1 at the STC office.
Pearce asked Moe if the government would consider reducing the number of beds at the wellness centre, given that another facility has since opened, and replacing the STC with another operator that has had more success in the community.
His comments at the SUMA convention prompted city council to introduce a motion, proposed by Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer, to remove Pearce from the homelessness subcommittee and replace him with Mayor Cynthia Block.
Arcand said Pearce tried to call him one evening, a move he believes someone from the councillor’s camp encouraged following the STC chief’s earlier media statement two weeks ago. He did not answer the call, as he was having supper with his family.
“I believe he knew what he was saying. I believe that one must take responsibility for what comes out of their mouth. You have to know what you're saying. So, he knew he was asking to have us removed. To me, that's not right. It's unfair. Like I said, it just validates that he was attacking us. That's unacceptable,” said Arcand.
“He needs to be a man, an adult, and come and sit with our board of directors and explain why he's after [the STC] as a First Nations organization, when the city supports Indigenous-led [initiatives] and Indigenous people. To me, that's important, because that's going against the city's values, which include that they support the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.”
Arcand said he felt Pearce “threw him under the bus” with his comments and should take responsibility. He praised city council for holding Pearce accountable and removing him from the subcommittee.
“We know that Saskatoon is 小蓝视频 a champion in Truth and Reconciliation. When one of your councillors is not doing that, I have a problem with that because we are a First Nations organization, and Truth and Reconciliation is about working and partnering with First Nations people to help solve some of these issues that we're having. We're uniting the First Nations people,” he said.
“I wish Mr. Pearce all the best. I think he needs to take some responsibility here and accept some ownership. If he wants to have a decent conversation with me, I'm always open to that. But I want him to stand up in front of the cameras the way he did at SUMA and do it that way instead of taking the easy way out and sending a letter about how he feels.”
Arcand said the STC wellness centre is not going anywhere, as he believes they are making an impact with the programs 小蓝视频 implemented to help relatives, and that they will continue to provide support.
He added that he has no intention of reaching out to Pearce and would prefer the councillor to arrange a meeting with the STC board of directors to learn more about its efforts to address homelessness and drug addiction in the city.
“He hasn't reached out since that initial evening, and I'm going to be honest, I think somebody told him to reach out. That's my gut feeling. However, I was busy with my family again. I was disappointed with his comments, so I didn't follow up with him. And I probably won't. I'm going to let him, if he wants to be a man and an adult, … come out and reach out and talk to our people,” said Arcand.
“This is a bigger issue now, because I speak on behalf of our people, as he does. We have full support from the mayor and council.”
