Families minister to meet with Lions Place seniors group

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This article was published 27/09/2022 (819 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The impending sale of Lions Place, a Winnipeg home to seniors of modest means, was raised during question period Wednesday at the Manitoba legislature.

When asked if the Progressive Conservative government would ensure the non-profit residence with 287 units is not sold to private interests, Families Minister Rochelle Squires said she plans to meet Monday with a seniors committee at Lions Place.

“We can sit and talk about the options and opportunities on a go-forward basis,” Squires told the house, saying she received a a letter asking for the meeting Sept. 19.

“Seniors at Lions Place are deeply concerned about the future and affordability of their home,” said NDP MLA Uzoma Asagwara, who raised the issue during question period.

The non-profit Lions Club that owns Lions Place at 610 Portage Ave. told residents in July it can it no longer afford to operate the building and was putting it up for sale.

Residents have said they’re concerned private investors will turn it into a for-profit building and raise rents, pricing them out of their homes.

Asagwara said Winnipeg needs more social and affordable housing and can’t afford to lose any more units.

“The PC government has already sold off hundreds of social housing units in my constituency,” said Asagwara (Union Station), who called on the province to sign on to a permanent funding agreement with Lions Place and make sure it’s not sold.

Squires said her government signed onto a national housing strategy, created 745 new units since taking office in 2016, and established a residential tenants tax credit.