Feds bypass Alberta, offer Edmonton money for homeless encampments

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The federal government is going directly to Edmonton and Calgary with money to get people out of homeless encampments, saying the Alberta government hasn’t accepted its multimillion-dollar cost-sharing offer to help as winter approaches.

Housing Minister Sean Fraser put out a statement Tuesday afternoon claiming Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan have not formally responded to a letter last month offering a portion of $250 million available nationally for provinces who partner with Ottawa to urgently find shelter for people experiencing homelessness and living in encampments. Instead, Canada will deal directly with municipal governments in those provinces, including Edmonton and Calgary.

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Alberta Seniors, Community and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon disagrees with Fraser’s characterization of what happened, saying Alberta hasn’t received or declined any offer of money related to encampments.

Fraser, in his statement, said there was “ample engagement” before the letter was sent Sept. 18 but there’s no time to wait as the weather cools.

“I am disappointed that these provincial governments are not willing to partner with us, as it means we cannot support as many communities as we would have been able to,” the statement said. “But let me be clear — we will no longer wait for them to muster the political will to act as winter gets closer and lives are put at risk.”

Provinces agreeing to match federal funds can choose communities where those dollars are spent.

Nixon, speaking to Postmedia Wednesday, said he received the letter but it didn’t specify a deadline or an amount for Alberta. Provincial and federal officials have met to discuss it — most recently on Monday. He said the province is interested in matching funding and they are “all ears” if the federal government wants talks to continue.

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“We have no idea what minister Fraser is talking about. We haven’t been offered any money. There has been no offer about encampment money,” he said, adding the letter was about a matching program. “This is just the latest reiteration of political games from our friends in Ottawa, a reflection of government chaos.

“This doesn’t change the investment we will be making into homelessness as we do every year.”

This is the latest case of a dispute between Alberta’s and Canada’s governments over cost-sharing agreements. Earlier disagreements surrounded dollars for dental care, pharmacare and childcare.

Funding agreements between two orders of government often come with certain requirements.

Nixon said the conversations didn’t get to that level, but if there were conditions the province didn’t like they would say no to funding. “We would say, no, we’ll just spend our money ourselves.”

Fraser shared the letter with this newspaper. Addressed to minister Nixon, it asks the province to partner with the federal government to find homes for people who don’t have them in Alberta.

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There is $250 million available over two years, nationally, “to provide more shelter spaces, transitional homes, harm reduction spaces, and services” that will help communities when federal dollars are matched with provincial money.

“The goal of this funding will be to support communities in establishing community encampment response plans this fall and conclude a deal with you before the winter months. These plans should cover how combined federal and provincial investments would be used to address homelessness,” the letter signed by Fraser states.

Fraser’s office did not answer a question about how much money Edmonton could receive. Questions about the minister’s views on Edmonton’s current response to homeless encampments or the current support available for unhoused people in Alberta were not answered.

Matching funding and creating a community response plan are conditions, according to his office.

Dealing with Edmonton

No money has yet been directly offered to Edmonton.

Fraser’s statement said the city was chosen as one municipality that has been responsive to federal cost-sharing offers in the past.

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Nixon doesn’t have a problem if the federal government wants to deal directly with Alberta’s two largest cities. But, he noted both municipalities have been public about financial challenges.

“I think that their perspective would be that they’d like Fraser to come back to the province who’s in the best position to provide that matching money,” Nixon said.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said Wednesday he hopes the provincial and federal governments can come to an agreement and quickly deliver funding to Edmonton, adding he’s happy to work with both.

“I am glad the federal government has created this fund to create dignified spaces for unhoused Edmontonians,” he said.

“Unfortunately, both governments are not doing enough to end this crisis that is killing Edmontonians each and every day. We have a large number of Edmontonians, close to 4,000, who are struggling with houselessness and many of them are sleeping outside or staying in shelters.”

Sohi said the money is meant for managing and responding to encampments. He knows encampments aren’t safe but he knows some houseless Edmontonians don’t have any other options.

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“I think we need to make sure they have safe spaces for them. Ultimately, we need to build more homes.”

– With files from Matthew Black

[email protected]

@laurby

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