Prince Albert city council rejected a proposed residential care home on Linner Lane Monday and directed administration to investigate a Ministry of Social Services letter included in the agenda after officials were unable to confirm its authenticity.
Councillors voted 5–4 in favor of denying the discretionary use permit application, which would have allowed Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Child and Family Services to operate a short-term care home for children at 35 Linner Lane. The decision followed debate over the completeness and reliability of information submitted with the application.
Prior to council’s discussion, Acting City Clerk Savannah Price advised councillors that a letter attributed to the Ministry of Social Services could not be verified despite attempts to confirm its origin.
“The letter does not identify a specific author by name, and we have been unable to verify its origin,” Price said, adding that ministry officials contacted by the city could not confirm whether it had been officially issued.
Price told council it would be inappropriate to rely on the correspondence during deliberations given the uncertainty surrounding its legitimacy.
Several councillors said the lack of clarity contributed to their concerns about the proposal and the information supporting it.
Coun. Dawn Kilmer said inconsistencies and unanswered questions made it difficult to support the application in its current form.
“We have a letter that has come before us that we don’t know who it came from,” Kilmer said. “It would be beneficial for us to return it to the department for review and report until everything can be verified properly and good information put forward.”
Coun. Stephen Ring said he supported the purpose behind the proposal but believed the location raised concerns.
“I applaud their intent for this group home, but I just don’t think it’s the proper location,” Ring said. “It’s a cul-de-sac. That’s the problem.”
Coun. Blake Edwards said broader issues with the application process and available information influenced his decision.
“This was not a very clean application whatsoever,” Edwards said. “The whole process has, to me, not been great.”
Coun. Daniel Brown, who introduced the motion to deny the permit, said his decision reflected concerns raised by residents.
“We’re elected by our residents. We’re elected by our homeowners. We’re responsible to them to protect their investments,” Brown said. “That’s why I’m voting to deny this in that area.”
Following the vote, council approved a separate motion directing administration to investigate the ministry correspondence and report back with its findings.
Kilmer introduced the motion, stating administration should verify the letter and provide council with further information.
“I’ll move that administration continue the investigation of the letter sent as information regarding the discretionary use of development located at 35 Linner Lane from social services to verify its content and return report to council,” she said.
Council supported the motion, formally instructing administration to review the matter and provide clarification.
The proposed care home would have provided temporary placement for children requiring short-term care while longer-term arrangements were made. Residential care homes require discretionary approval from council in residential areas.
Under city procedures, the applicant must now wait six months before submitting a new application for the same property.
