Saskatchewan Wait Times for Addiction Treatment Revealed

Data from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Health indicates that individuals seeking in-patient addiction treatment may face wait times of up to six weeks. This information, obtained by CBC News through a freedom of information request, contradicts statements made by Lori Carr, the province’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, who has claimed that the government lacks wait-time data.

In public statements and discussions within the provincial legislature, Carr has suggested that tracking wait times is challenging due to individual facility reporting. “The [facilities] track them individually. So it’s really hard to kind of reconcile all of that is happening at this point in time,” Carr stated on Monday.

Conflicting Information Raises Concerns

The documents acquired by CBC News reveal average wait times for nearly every adult in-patient facility in Saskatchewan dating back to the fiscal year 2022-23. Betty Nippi-Albright, the Saskatchewan NDP critic for mental health and addictions, highlighted that the discrepancies between Carr’s claims and the documented data raise serious concerns about the government’s transparency. “[Carr] doesn’t have a clue,” she remarked in a recent interview.

Nippi-Albright has actively sought information from the government regarding the number of individuals awaiting treatment, but her efforts have largely been unfruitful until receiving the CBC-released documents. She emphasized the importance of public access to this information, stating, “Withholding information that the public needs to know, that’s wrong.”

The data indicates that wait times can vary significantly across the province. For instance, as of the fiscal year 2024-25, the St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Île-à-la-Crosse reports a median wait time of zero days for in-patient treatment, while the St. Joseph’s Addiction Recovery Centre in Estevan has a median wait time of six weeks.

Government’s Commitment to Treatment Capacity

The Saskatchewan government has previously committed to enhancing treatment capacity for individuals seeking help. Two years ago, the province pledged to establish 500 new treatment beds by 2028 as part of its mental health action plan. However, as of July 31, 2025, only 221 of these beds were operational.

When questioned about the current availability of new treatment beds, the government did not provide specific answers. Instead, Carr stated, “There are nearly 800 addiction treatment spaces operating across the province.” According to the documents reviewed by CBC, a total of 746 alcohol and drug treatment beds were either available or pending by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year. This total includes both existing and newly opened beds since the announcement of the 500-bed initiative.

In her responses, Carr has pointed to the establishment of a centralized intake system as a solution for tracking waitlist and wait-time data. “It is the whole point of doing the central intake system,” she noted, explaining that this system, announced in October 2023, will allow patients to self-refer for mental health and addictions services. The government aims to implement this system “through a phased approach” over the coming year.

The ongoing challenges related to addiction treatment in Saskatchewan are underscored by the increasing demand for services. As the province grapples with the consequences of substance use, the urgency of addressing wait times and improving access to care becomes more pressing.