Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation to build, own 24-hour urgent care centre in Saskatoon

An agreement between Saskatchewan and a development company owned by a Cree Nation has brought construction of an urgent care centre in Saskatoon one step closer to breaking ground.

The province announced urgent care centres in Saskatoon and Regina in 2020, with $30 million of the province's $7.5 billion COVID-19 economic recovery stimulus plan allocated to the projects.

A Memorandum of Understanding signed with the provincial government outlines that Ahtahkakoop Cree Developments — a company owned by the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation — will own the land and the building for the Saskatoon care centre. The two will confer on the design, economic model and location.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority will lease the building, staff it and operate it. Merriman said it was too early to provide cost estimates or staff numbers. No specific location has been finalized, but Saskatoon's west end is being targeted.

"I think that people would rather come into an urgent care centre or a smaller medi-clinic than going into the hospital," said Saskatchewan Health Minister Paul Merriman.

He said the new care centre will treat patients that need urgent attention for non-life threatening health concerns — including mental health services — 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Merriman acknowledged emergency room delays in Saskatoon's Royal University, St. Paul's and City hospitals. 

"If there's lower acuity on the injuries, then we want to be able to treat them in a different way and at a different location," he said.

The care centre is intended to fill the gap between a walk-in clinic and an emergency room, with hopes of alleviating the pressure placed on the province's health care system.

"This is a huge step in taking that, not just the physical ailments that are presented but the mental health and addictions," he said. 

"There's going to be a separate entrance for mental health and addictions to make sure that they have the dignity they need."

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Cree Nation to own land

Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation is about 79 kilometres northwest of Prince Albert.

Ahtahkakoop Chief Larry Ahenakew said the community would benefit from this partnership, saying the building would provide employment and training opportunities.

"Economically, I think it's beneficial for our First Nation to get into Saskatoon and to start buying land," Ahenakew said.

Merriman said the province won't necessarily foot the bill for the building materials, noting that will be the Cree Nation's responsibility.

He added that the building's appearance will have Indigenous influences and that there would be a "cultural component to it as well."

"We also respect that First Nation and Métis people have a rich cultural and traditional practice that are known to improve health outcomes. This MOU today is a new way of doing things in Saskatoon," Merriman said.

Merriman said there is no start date for construction yet.

Meanwhile, Regina's urgent care centre, which will cover concerns like injury care, basic diagnostic services, and mental health and addictions supports, is expected to be completed in 2023.

Merriman said the mental health supports in Saskatoon's centre will be similar to Regina's.