Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief: No one should have to live in conditions found at City Centre Inn

Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Mark Arcand said over the years he’d “heard stories” about the conditions many long-term residents at the City Centre Inn on Idylwyld Drive experienced, but he doesn’t believe rumours.

“This is where I actually visually see the pictures, the reports from the fire chief explaining what was going on. The electrical issue, the plumbing issue, the sewage issue, the bedbug issue, the cockroaches, just everything, the hoarding. All that stuff,” Arcand said.

After seeing some of the conditions at the former Northwoods Inn himself, he said no one should have to live in squalor like the 150 residents — many of whom are Indigenous — did at the motel. He’s not sure how it even got to that state to begin with.

“All I know is there’s a landlord … that allowed this to happen,” Arcand said.

“Because he’s responsible just like any other person that’ s renting out rooms or houses or whatever. Their responsibility is to upkeep that place for the tenants.”

Public health inspectors, the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA), Saskatoon Fire, police, Saskatchewan Housing Authority and a host of other services were at the motel Thursday, helping residents leave for other temporary accommodations. But not everyone wants to leave.

“The majority of the people are all supportive of the situation,” Arcand said.

“Some people are saying, ‘It’s my home, right? ‘Cause I’ve been here for six months.’ Now whether they’re on income assistance or old age security, we’re saying ‘Yeah, you may consider this your home, but we can get you a better home if we all work together.’ A hotel room is not a home in my view.”

Health officials descended on the property on Wednesday, along with environmental cleanup services, to begin the task of closing the property. Since then, several families have been relocated, and others will be sent to shelters, other hotels or to family members on a temporary basis.

Arcand said the deplorable conditions hurt his heart.

“As a Tribal Chief, yes. But my heart is also for people in general. No person or people should be living like this,” he said.

“This is Saskatoon. This is a province we’re proud to live in for all people. At the end of the day, we need to do better as a community.”

He said there has to be some accountability regarding how and why the building was allowed to get to the state it’s currently in.

Right now, Arcand says the priority is to test everyone for COVID-19, to get them food and a safe place to stay.

“These people have nowhere else to go. So that’s the challenge,” he said. “We’ve got to work together to make sure they have somewhere to go.”