Provincial Resolutions for Change

SUMA, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, is the provincial voice of urban municipal governments representing cities, towns and villages.

Through strength in unity, SUMA advocates, negotiates and initiates improvements in local, provincial and federal legislation, and delivers programs and services to members to enhance the quality of life in Saskatchewan.

For the upcoming 2014 Conference SUMA has requested resolutions for discussion and if passed the resolution would be presented to the provincial government for consideration. There are two resolutions I am considering for Council, the first has been presented by past Councils:

1. That the province grant Towns the power to be able to sub classify properties for fairness for both residents and businesses.
2. That the province and federal government consider other census sources, such as health cards, as means of determining funding levels.
• As an example the federal census, which is voluntary, counts less than 4,700 residents in Kindersley. In contrast Heartland Health Region counts more than 5,300 residents. The difference is 12% and has a direct impact on the amount of revenue the Town receives from the gas tax. With the federal census conducted every four years, and the growth that we and other communities are experiencing, there is a significant possibility that the Town and other communities are going to be chronically underfunded for the next few years.

These are two resolutions we need to consider presenting to SUMA. There is a third resolution I am considering but need to think it through further.