MOOSE JAW — Reducing crime and enhancing safety are two issues residents want addressed, so to meet those demands, city hall intends to apply for provincial funding to create a plan.
The Ministry of Justice has money to address community safety and well-being and cover research, consultation and planning, a city council report explained. Municipalities must apply for the funding, although partnering with a third party is an option if the former applies for the latter.
Many groups in Moose Jaw are identifying and building plans to address these safety-related issues, such as the Community-Based Coalition (CBC) and a collection of non-profit groups focusing on housing, food security, addiction, health care, immigrant settlement and other sectors, the report continued.
Since the ministry funding can only be used to create a plan, it’s important for the city to apply since the potential exists for the existing third parties to duplicate efforts, the document added.
During its recent executive committee meeting, council voted 4-3 to have city administration identify a community safety and well-being partner and apply for provincial funding for that organization.
Mayor Clive Tolley and councillors Jamey Logan, Crystal Froese and Doug Blanc were in favour, while councillors Kim Robinson, Heather Eby and Dawn Luhning were opposed.
The recommendation will become official once council approves the meeting minutes at the next regular meeting.
Council discussion
Robinson said he spoke with a company called the Impact Group, which was “instrumental” in helping Yorkton create a plan to address its safety issues. The company gave him a proposal for Moose Jaw — it would apply for funding for the city — that he forwarded to city administration.
Robinson asked whether administration had received his communication and whether it would proceed with the proposal.
Administration replied that city hall had received the fully costed document, while the decision to accept Impact Group or another third-party organization would be up to council. Once approved, city hall will contact stakeholders to see whether they are interested in supporting the initiative.
Administration clarified that either it could lead this process, acquire the funding and lead the safety initiative, or the city could apply for funding and manage the money for a third-party group.
If the Impact Group were unsuccessful in acquiring the grant funding, it would not charge the city for its efforts, replied Robinson. Meanwhile, he didn’t think council needed to “reinvent the wheel” if this company had already supported something similar elsewhere.
“In a previous discussion with council, there was some indication that it was more advantageous to have a third party do it,” said city manager Maryse Carmichael. “We have had some initial discussions to see if there is some interest with people from the CBC.”
Luhning said she wasn’t comfortable with the recommendation because it didn’t provide much direction, while she thought council needed to identify the partner first. Her preference was to refer this issue to administration to conduct research first.
Said Eby, “I will not support the motion because I’m not comfortable with the vagueness of it. But that does not mean I don’t support the grant.”
Mayor Tolley pointed out that council approved a motion in July directing administration to seek funding for research purposes to investigate and create a plan to address safety-related concerns. Officials did that and now want council to identify a partner and apply for provincial funding.
“They want our blessing for that. As Ms. Carmichael said, if they (administration) establish a situation or partnership that works, they will bring it back here for final approval of council,” he said. “… the City of Moose Jaw does not want to be in this business (of creating the plan). We want to work with a community partner.”
The initiative’s intent is to create an action plan with everyone working toward the same goal and addressing similar needs and concerns, said Froese. She thought this recommendation was “perfect timing” since it could help council fully identify the community’s “unique needs” while working with experts.
The next executive committee meeting is Monday, Oct. 7.
