Province cancels relocation of Regina halfway house

UPDATE: The province has canceled moving a halfway house to the Normanview area because there would be violent/sex offenders housed there. Corrections and Policing Minister Christine Tell says she received “incorrect” information from officials about the types of offenders who would be using the facility.

In a statement Wednesday, Tell said: “As a result of this new information and the community concerns, I have directed my ministry that Dale’s house will not be used for the Community Training Residence program.  The community training residence will remain in its current location. I apologize to the assembly and I would like to thank all the community members who reached out and raised their concerns with us.”

REGINA – Some residents in Regina’s northwest aren’t thrilled with the idea of having around 30 offenders as their new neighbours.

The Regina Community Training Residence was set to move to the Normanview community on March 31^st, but a lack of public consultation has prompted the province to push pause on the move, for now.

Marty Krauss lives in the community and said there was no consultation about the facility which would house up to 30 low to medium risk offenders and he’s uneasy about its proximity to schools.

“I just feel really, really uncomfortable by the whole thing,” he explained.  “My grandson is old enough to be more independent, to take the bus, to walk to the store by himself, and I’m not sure that’s going to happen if this goes ahead.”

The current facility is located downtown but the plan is to move it to the Normanview location which was formerly Dale’s House, a facility for troubled youth.

On Tuesday, Darlene Krauss brought her concerns about the building’s location to the legislature.

“We haven’t a problem with people having second or third chances, but we don’t want people with violent or sexual convictions in there,” she told reporters.

The facility was set to open March 31^st but some residents said they only found out last week which prompted the province to delay the move for the time being.

The NDP said the province needs to scrap the plan until proper consultation has happened.

“They’re going to pause this for a short period of time to give them more information on their decision.  That’s not consultation.” said Trent Wotherspoon.

Christine Tell, the correction and policing minister said the current facility’s track record speaks for itself and she’s confident more information about the residence will ease residents’ minds.

“(There’s a) 90 per cent success rate with very little or very few concerns expressed and they’ve been there for years.  Would this change with a move?  No.”

An open house will be held on the 23^rd to address residents concerns.