Premier Moe surprises Moose Jaw mayor, says province relocating homeless shelter

MOOSE JAW – Many were surprised Wednesday in Moose Jaw when Premier Scott Moe and some of his cabinet ministers arrived to inform locals the city’s downtown homeless shelter would be moving.

Mayor James Murdock told reporters he doesn’t know where the shelter is going, but the province has instructed the city to provide suitable locations.

He made the announcement at a news conference held shortly after the meeting with Moe.

“This was just brought up to me this morning,” Murdock said. “This was a directive from the ministry and they’ve asked for the city’s input.”

Also stunned was the John Howard Society, which operates the 15-bed shelter known as Willow Lodge. 

“We heard about it when media started contacting us,” Shawn Fraser, the organization’s CEO, said in an interview. “We actually haven’t been contacted by the government with this. We just don’t know what this plan is.” 

Alex Carleton, chair of the Downtown Moose Jaw Association, said he also found out about the decision during the meeting with Moe.

He said there are problems with the homeless in the downtown, and Moose Jaw’s tourism industry should be protected.

“(Shelters) do not need to be in our downtown,” Carleton said. 

“If we’re going to be serious about tourism, it’s hard to have numerous people (who are) homeless on our streets and some of the challenges that they bring.” 

Moe told reporters the province is not reducing services.

“It’s about reducing maybe some of the peripheral impact that providing those services might have on the safety of our communities,” he said. 

Justice Minister Tim McLeod, a Saskatchewan Party legislature member representing Moose Jaw, said while Murdock might not have received requests to move the shelter, the province has heard an earful. 

“My colleagues and I have very much heard a direct request for relocation of those services outside the downtown,” he said. “It’s a collaborative conversation.” 

The Opposition NDP called the news conference a “train wreck,” saying Moe made the decision to appease his party’s base.

“After 18 years and big losses last election, the Sask. Party seems to be in panic mode,” NDP housing critic April ChiefCalf said in a statement. 

Fraser said the province approached his organization two years ago to set up the shelter and help address homelessness in the community. 

He has yet to see any evidence Willow Lodge is the cause of disarray in the downtown, he said.

“We have very few incidents (at our shelter),” Fraser said. “(Issues downtown) might be tied to homelessness. I’m not sure that it’s tied to the shelter.”

Fraser pointed to statistics released last month by Moose Jaw police that show crimes against people are down 45 per cent compared to last year. 

“Usually crime happens at the corner of desperation and opportunity, and I think the shelter is actually helping take away desperation for people,” he said.

“If somebody has a compelling argument … about why making homeless services harder to access will make the streets of Moose Jaw safer, I’d love to hear it.”

Last year, another shelter in Moose Jaw’s downtown closed due to building issues, and public pushback made it difficult for that shelter to find a new location.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2025.

— By Jeremy Simes in Regina