Money to the poor?

16.3 MILLION COMMITTED TO REVITALIZATION OF SASKATOON’S PLEASANT HILL AREA
Premier Brad Wall today announced his government's decision to commit $8.3 million for the construction of a new St. Mary Community School, daycare and wellness centre in Saskatoon's Pleasant Hill neighbourhood.
The community school project will be the focal point for a larger revitalization of Pleasant Hill including $8 million for the development of affordable housing in co-operation with local community groups.
"Saskatchewan is transforming into a place of opportunity and growth," Wall said. "And with today's investment, we will help local people continue developing this neighbourhood into a place of growth and opportunity, where the young people that have joined us today can achieve their highest potential."
"New investment in Saskatoon's core neighbourhoods is crucial to building a sustainable city," Saskatoon Mayor Donald Atchison said. "Projects such as the Pleasant Hill Revitalization Project are rare opportunities to take a large area within an existing neighbourhood and renew it with parks, housing and a new school. The City of Saskatoon is proud to announce its contribution of a new community activity space within the new St. Mary School. This space will serve as a central place for public meetings, community association programming and essentially a hub for the neighbourhood residents."
St. Mary Community School has already been effective in forming partnerships with organizations like the Saskatoon Tribal Council, the University of Saskatchewan - Department of Pediatrics and the Saskatoon Health Region. Services currently offered include a clinic for young children, a pilot program aimed at reducing obesity rates in students as well as various cultural and spiritual activities.
"Our school division has a long history of providing Catholic education here and we are thrilled that we will be continuing this tradition in a new school facility that will help us more fully meet the needs of the children in this community," Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools Board of Education chair Jim Carriere said. "We are looking forward to working together with the St. Mary Community School, our service partners at the school and the entire Pleasant Hill area as we plan and construct a new St. Mary School that will be a key piece in the rejuvenation of this neighbourhood."
Wall said in addition to the school, housing is also a priority for the government.
"The need for a new building to house all of these tremendous initiatives has long been identified," Wall said. "Today's announcement allows for detailed planning to proceed and provides the community with certainty that a new school will be built. And we're also going to keep a promise to develop more affordable housing for low and moderate income families."
The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation is providing $8 million for the City of Saskatoon's Pleasant Hill Revitalization Project. The project will see two blocks of deteriorating housing transformed into attractive, safe and affordable housing.