REGINA — The Opposition New Democrats took aim at the Sask. Party on Thursday over social services clients being placed in hotels infested with bedbugs.
Opposition Social Services critic Brent Blakley held a media availability outside the Coachman Inn, which was the subject of a recent CTV News report on conditions for social services clients staying there. He held nothing back in his description of conditions at the motel.
“The Sask Party government is putting vulnerable people up in deplorable, bug-infested motel rooms, and they're paying extra for it,” said Blakley.
“According to a CTV report, social services clients, temporarily housed at the Coachman Motor Inn here behind me, are being subjected to bedbugs, cockroaches, and drug dealers trying to push crystal meth.”
Blakley pointed to data released by the Ministry of Social Services, saying the Sask. Party government has consistently paid the Coachman $128 per room per night since 2022.
“Rooms are advertised online at $85. Opposition researchers called the Coachman yesterday and were offered a room for $80, tax included. For the rate the government is paying, there’s no reason to put clients in these horrible conditions.”
He called on the government to “remove the Coachman from their list of social services accommodation immediately.”
“It’s disgusting. Not only is this a bad use of taxpayer dollars, it’s downright cruel and no way to build a strong province for the future.”
Blakley also asked Social Services Minister Terry Jenson “if he would put his family up in these conditions. I doubt that he would. So perhaps he should come down and have a look at the conditions that they’re putting their clients in.”
The NDP pointed to government expenditures showing $180,315 was spent at the Coachman in 2022-23, and $63,625 from April to September 2023-24.
As for why hotels are being used, Blakley said it wouldn’t be necessary if “we could get some of these social housing units and SaskHousing units online. We have over 2,000 province-wide vacant SaskHousing units. Let’s use the resources that we have rather than paying $3 million a year in hotel stays.”
He added there are 440 vacant units in Regina alone.
“I would imagine if we got those up and running or renovated, whatever reason they’re sitting vacant, we could use those rooms instead of hotel stays. My understanding is just the lack of units to put these folks up in. And often they are kind of last-minute, emergent situations. But like I said, if they had some of these units open, they could use those rather than having to use hotels and rely on hotels that may not be really up to code, up to standard.”
Sask Today has reached out to the Coachman Inn seeking comment on the allegations but have not received a response as of publication time.
The province provided a statement in response to the NDP news conference. They said that “health inspections were conducted at the Coachman Hotel by a Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) Public Health Inspector on Aug. 18 and Aug. 26, 2025. Recommendations were provided to the building’s owner. The SHA is currently working with the owner to comply with The Public Accommodation Regulations and The Public Health Act, 1994.”
The government statement said that due to “the complex needs and challenges that some clients are facing, the ministry may have limited options on where to place them, as they may no longer be accepted at certain emergency shelters or hotels due to past behaviours or issues.
“In Regina specifically, the ministry has a limited number of hotel providers who are able or willing to accommodate Social Services clients. The Coachman Inn and Suites is one such provider who accepts social services clients.”
The government also said the Social Services Ministry “expects service providers to meet health and safety requirements. If a client has a health or safety concern regarding the room, we will look to secure alternate, available accommodations. Regardless of the hotel choice or method used to procure the room, the ministry works with our hotel partners to ensure the safety of our clients while we work with the client to transition them to more stable housing options.”
