Saskatchewan Housing Minister Donna Harpauer has issued an apology over a comment she made earlier this week about the homeless situation in Regina.

It followed a government decision to turn a 48-unit apartment block back to the developer because of cost overruns.

In response to a CBC reporter’s question, she said: “You are assuming that there are these desperate homeless people”.

Harpauer says the words should never have been said.

She says the government takes the issue of affordable housing and homelessness very seriously.