REGINA —The saga of Frank Francoeur and the Ministry of Social Services was back at the legislature this week.
Last week, Opposition critic Meara Conway had raised the issue of Francoeur being evicted from his Regina home due to his having to transfer over to the Saskatchewan Income Support (SIS) program.
The change meant he had to pay utilities out of benefits rather than through direct payment, and he couldn’t keep up with the additional payments.
Francouer was at the legislature last week to advocate for his case and try to find a solution. The response from the government was a commitment to meet with him and try to address the situation.
In Question Period Thursday, on the final day of the session, Conway pointed out Francoeur’s situation had gotten worse. She accused the government of now kicking him off his benefits.
“Instead of an effort to keep a roof over his family’s head or providing support for his rental arrears, or any recognition that SIS is not enough for people to live on, this government cut him off his benefits three days ago.”
She noted Francoeur and his two boys not only didn’t have a home, but no income either.
“Frank is here again today. He’s here and he wants to know, like myself: is this some kind of sick joke? Does the minister have a streak for vengeance? Tell us that this was a mistake.”
The “vengeance” remark drew a rebuke from Speaker Randy Weekes. In response, Social Services Minister Lori Carr said she would work with Francoeur to try to help him.
Conway then alleged that Francoeur was “kicked off his benefits because he called his worker explaining that he’d been evicted and asked for help.”
“He was told that because he now doesn’t have an address, his benefits are cut off, Mr. Speaker. Frank sat in that minister’s office to explain his family’s plight. His only ask was to stay in his home, and this is what he got in return, Mr. Speaker. Four days after speaking to the media about his struggles, four days after meeting in that minister’s office, he got a letter from that ministry cutting him off his benefits …
“No more 'I’ll meet with the family.' No more 'we’ll review the case.' The question is simple. It’s a yes-or-no question. Will the minister commit today to keep Frank in his home, to restore his benefits? Yes or no?”
Carr responded that “if what she is saying is in fact accurate, Mr. Speaker, we’re not going to cut someone off a program just because they are having an interim problem with housing. Mr. Speaker, with the SIS program, we truly are there to try and help individuals to better themselves, to work with them to try and get them back on the right track, enable them to help themselves, along with our help, Mr. Speaker.”
In speaking to reporters afterward, Carr indicated that what was alleged about the letter Francoeur received was not accurate.
“So, there’s a bit of a misrepresentation of the facts. Basically, with income assistance clients who had a change in circumstances, we request information from them, we give them a certain amount of time to get that information to us. So, they’re just given notice that if the information doesn’t come, you could be cut off of benefits. And so that’s what happened here. It’s standard with every client that their circumstances do change. So, he is not cut off, he still has benefits right now.”
“If he provides his information he’ll be just fine,” said Carr.
In speaking to reporters, Francoeur provided some more details about the letter he received. It stated that he had until June 15 to provide a new address, otherwise his July benefits would be suspended.
But Francoeur also told reporters the impression he got when he sought more information over the phone was that he was “immediately” suspended, and that he also wasn’t eligible for his security deposit because he “benefitted” from one of them.
Francoeur also said he didn’t get the assurances he wanted from his meeting with Social Services when he sat down with them.
“I explained to them everything, they had no concern walking out of the meeting that there was any outstanding information that they needed from me. They didn’t reach out to me for any additional information. I gave them everything I have got, and haven’t heard back from them at all.”
Francouer says he pays his rent on time and he still doesn’t understand why Regina Housing got a writ of possession against him. “I’m still baffled,” said Francoeur.
“Now, I’m like puzzled about what’s going on. It’s very hard to describe where people who say they’re going to do something, they don’t do it. It’s still, right from the beginning, a matter of one phone call.”
Carr told reporters they would continue to work with Francoeur. While Francoeur has received an eviction notice, Carr said he is still in the housing he is in right now and “we are working with him to see if it is possible that he can stay.”
