Province asks Weyburn council to rethink group home decision

The province is urging Weyburn city council to rethink its decision not to build a group home for people with disabilities in one of the city’s more affluent areas.

Council voted down the application Monday, saying some residents of The Creeks feel the group home will disrupt parking, and impact the property value and safety of the neighbourhood.

Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said he spoke to Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy on Wednesday afternoon, expressing his disappointment.

“(Roy) wanted to make sure I understood that (council) followed their process. My comment on that is I disagree with the process,” Merriman told reporters at the legislature on Thursday.

“Anybody should have the opportunity to live on any specific street in any specific community that they want and I don’t believe they should be discriminated against.”

Merriman noted he offered to drive to Weyburn to discuss his concerns with council.

Premier Scott Moe and opposition NDP leader Ryan Meili have also found common ground on the topic. Both have said supporting those with intellectual and physical disabilities remains a priority for the province, and they’d like councillors to revisit their decision.

Environment Minister Dustin Duncan is the MLA for Weyburn-Big Muddy. He said this exclusiveness isn’t the community he knows, and he’s pleased some residents are standing up for those with disabilities.

“I’m glad to see that people came out and put on a protest in the last day or so. I think that that’s reflective of the spirit of Weyburn and the people of Weyburn,” Duncan said.

“Every time we have opened a group home (in Weyburn), it has been a celebration of the community — it has been welcomed with open arms by people in those neighbourhoods.”

Roy has said no offence was meant by council’s vote and the city will work to find a new spot for the group home.

Meanwhile, Duncan said he backs the Weyburn Group Home Society’s initial plan to build the home in The Creeks instead of relocating it to another area.

“I have no reason to not support their decision to try to have it in The Creeks, and certainly that would be my preference as well,” he said.

However, regardless of the location, Duncan stressed a new group home needs to be built in Weyburn as there’s a waiting list.

The proposed home is set to have rooms for up to four adults with physical or mental disabilities as well as staff.