Belanger Voices Some Regrets Over Oyate Affair

Belanger Voices Some Regrets Over Oyate Affair

Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 10:33

Saskatchewan’s Community Resources minister says he may have been reaching a little too far when it came to expectations for Regina’s troubled Oyate Safe House.

However, Buckley Belanger says steps have been taken to ensure the safe house can succeed when, and if, it reopens.

That includes a plan announced this week to allow sexually-exploited teens to go through Oyate’s doors, but only after they’ve been assessed and cared for by another agency.

Oyate will be responsible for re-introducing a cultural element to the teens’ lives.

Belanger also doesn’t accept criticism that the NDP are seeking to win favour with the First Nations community at the expense of at risk youth.

Belanger says he feels comfortable with the moves his department is taking to protect kids on the street, and he doesn’t see how any of it could be viewed as political.

He says his portfolio is a tough one right now, but he’s admanant he is doing his best to help the youth who are using his department’s services.