Construction of the new long-term care facility as of April 18. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

long-term care

La Ronge housing shortage discussed at SUMA convention

Apr 18, 2024 | 4:32 PM

The need for more housing to meet the anticipated demand due to the opening of the new long-term care home in La Ronge in 2026 or 2027 was brought up at the annual Saskatchewan Urban Municipal Association’s (SUMA) annual convention this week.

The convention, which was held April 14 to 17 in Regina, was attended by La Ronge Mayor Joe Hordyski, along with councillors Abby Besharah, Viviana Ruiz Arcand and Jordan McPhail, as well as chief financial officer Trevor Putz and community services manager Connor Tessier.

During the bear pit session with Premier Scott Moe and provincial ministers, Besharah asked what the government was doing to recruit employees and ensure they have a place to live once the long-term care facility construction is complete.

The response to the question was the province was unsure of the details of a new federal housing program and that the province doesn’t have a program in place itself.

“We had a meeting with the minister as well, and we talked about the need for some kind of housing program in order to achieve the numbers that we really need,” Hordyski said.

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“I don’t think they totally understand what that federal program is going to look like.”

Earlier this year, the town’s application to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Housing Accelerator Fund was rejected. The program is meant to help increase the country’s housing supply and support the development of communities that are more affordable, diverse and climate-resilient.

“It seems like the first one was more for above ground construction if you will,” Hordyski explained.

“It’s really challenging for some municipalities like ours to service the lots and put the houses on. If the program was gear for communities that already got those pipes in the ground and are ready to go and are able to act in a quick response. It doesn’t help communities like ours where we really need those dollars to subsidize the servicing of a subdivision.”

While the province doesn’t have such a program in place, Hordyski noted they do have a track record of matching infrastructure dollars with the federal government. He added he’s unsure if the province would do the same with housing, but that they are likely open to it.

The three-storey, two-wing per-floor care home will include 80 resident rooms, living areas, tub rooms, family rooms, a traditional healing space, a serenity room, a commercial kitchen and space for other health services. It’s been estimated the Saskatchewan Health Authority will need to hire 145 additional staff in La Ronge.

Hordsyki mentioned other highlights at the convention included talks about economic development, disaster mitigation and conflict of interest guidelines. He said there was also a successful vote to downsize the SUMA board and restructure it.

“We will be included in the northern communities and the villages will be our sector, and we will have the ability to do groundwork and pass that on and have a very effective board to lobby on our behalf,” Hordyski said.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com