Poundmaker’s Lodge and Treatment Centre says Alberta is no longer funding its day addictions and recovery program, which the centre says received $600,000 in government support. The flexible program offered culturally specific services to people who could not commit to longer care or take an extended period away from other responsibilities.

Executive director Brad Cardinal said the centre contacted the minister of Indigenous relations, the minister responsible for addiction and mental health, and Recovery Alberta. “We contacted the minister of Indigenous relations, we contacted the minister responsible for addiction and mental health, we contacted Recovery Alberta, and the last response we received is that we would not receive funding and they would need to go back at some point and consult with stakeholders,” he said.

Former client Anne Green said the program helped people seek assistance without entering residential treatment. “The day program helped people walk through that door and say, ‘Hey, I need help and I can’t go to treatment. But I can do this program for three weeks, and three weeks is a start,’” she said.

Poundmaker’s Lodge said 143 people were on the program’s waitlist. Former client James Langley said others still need the service. “There are other people out there who want the help, and they’re taking that away,” he said. “That doesn’t really make sense to me.”

In a statement, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction said the province provides $6.8 million annually to Poundmaker’s Lodge. It said a fire at the lodge’s facilities in 2025 led to day program funds being redirected to support displaced clients. The province described the reallocation as temporary, pending the reopening of the bed-based program, which took place in March.

Based on reporting by CTV News Edmonton.