Weyburn council's decision to reconsider controversial group home vote 'step in the right direction'

City council in Weyburn, Sask., says it will reconsider a controversial decision to reject a proposed group home for people living with intellectual disabilities.

An advocate for people with disabilities says that's the right move — although she's disappointed the situation reached this point.

It's a "step in the right direction," Miranda Klinger said with a sigh Tuesday.

She's on the ​board of directors of the Saskatchewan Down Syndrome Society, and says council's latest decision signals that the voices of advocates and people with disabilities "who often don't have a voice" are being heard.

However, she said the hurt felt by people in the disabled community remains, despite council's decision to revisit the vote.

"Even if they said, 'Fine, build in our neighbourhood,' do you want to live there now?"

In a vote on the proposed group home on March 11, councillors listed "stigma," traffic concerns and a potential hit to property prices in the new upscale neighbourhood of The Creeks as reasons why they didn't want the group home there — a decision which sparked outrage and protest last week.

Council now plans to reconsider, a city spokesperson said.

From an advocate's perspective, Klinger said she wants the home, which would house four adults with intellectual disabilities, built as proposed.

"But it's not me necessarily living that," she said.

"I think that we need to see that community, the disability community, have a voice in that rather than just the neighbourhood of The Creeks and those city councillors making those decisions for them."

She said SDSS board members heard outrage from the disability community, and were also angry themselves about the comments and the decision.

Their outrage evolved into sadness, disappointment and then pity, she says.

"We're actually sorry that this community in Weyburn doesn't see the value that this group home might bring to their neighborhood."

The society board felt it couldn't keep quiet about the situation, and wrote a letter to Weyburn city council which was then posted to social media. Klinger says the board saw an opportunity to educate others with grace, despite the anger.

"Sometimes that's just the first step in seeing progress, and seeing our province and these communities moving towards more inclusive models," she said.

Klinger said situations like this remind advocates there is more work to be done.

Proposal to come before council

It's not yet clear at which council meeting the group home will be discussed, and council has not committed to rescinding its vote.

"To ensure a quick resolution, this application will be brought back to Council at the earliest possible meeting while adhering to the City of Weyburn's procedures and bylaws," the city spokesperson wrote on Tuesday.

They said members of city council and administration met with the Ministry of Social Services, SHC, Weyburn Group Home Society and Terra Developments on Monday.

The spokesperson said they "left feeling that the direction going forward will get this home built in The Creeks."

A spokesperson for the province's Ministry of Social Services said Monday they are trying to minimize delays for those slated to move into the home.

"At this point, we aren't sure what the delay will look like, but we will be working together with the community to move forward on other potential site options."

Human Rights Commission calls for inclusion

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission declined to speak directly to the Weyburn controversy, but issued a statement on Tuesday when asked for a comment on the matter.

"The inclusion of people with disabilities in our public spaces, workplaces, and in our communities is essential," wrote chief commissioner David Arnot in the statement.

"People with intellectual and physical disabilities have the right to live free from discrimination, and to enjoy the same services, vocations, and education as every other citizen in the Province of Saskatchewan."

The statement said SHRC believes in the importance of education, and said it could offer municipalities tools and information to avoid Saskatchewan Human Rights Code infringements.

It said SHRC "understands that making mistakes [is] a part of human nature. The important thing is to identify, learn from, and correct mistakes."

On Friday, city council issued a written statement with an apology to those "who have been hurt by the words said in Council Chambers on Monday."

The statement said that some of the comments from Weyburn's elected officials were "not excusable."