Saskatchewan’s unprecedented growth rate has created an environment of significant economic development opportunities, resulting in increased economic activity throughout both rural and urban Saskatchewan. This growth has allowed many sectors of the economy, including commercial, industrial, retail, and housing to flourish and prosper. Along with this growth however, come challenges that need to be properly managed as a region. Effectively planned, sustainable regional development requires cooperation between municipalities, both urban and rural, and the need to ensure the region expands in a well managed, economically sustainable way.
This Regional Planning Summit, “The Economic Case for Regional Cooperation” is important for the purpose of building momentum around regional planning by bringing together stakeholders contributing to economic growth and development in the economic regions of southern Saskatchewan.
The objective of the Summit is to strengthen the commitment of communities to work together through a shared understanding of the need and importance of regional planning. As a starting point, it is important for all stakeholders to engage in productive discussions based on best practices, innovation, information sharing and interaction.
The Summit themes will offer the opportunity to hear from speakers, who are experts in their fields, as well as interactive participatory workshops, to further the discussion on needs, commonalities, issues and potential solutions.
Regina Regional Opportunities Commission, along with its planning partners, welcome your attendance at the 2013 Regional Planning Summit November 4th and 5th in Regina.
The Summit theme “The Economic Case for Regional Cooperation” will focus on the following topics of discussion:
(1) Infrastructure
Physical infrastructure is one of the key building blocks of municipalities, their economies, and their regions. The public dialogue regarding infrastructure - its importance, its state of repair, the cost to replace and expand existing infrastructure, and the ways in which to fund it have all been the subject of much dialogue and debate. How important is having up to date infrastructure to a community or a region? What is the role of infrastructure in attracting and retaining residents and in improving competitiveness and productivity of businesses? Is innovation in infrastructure possible? What is the correct balance between over and under investing in infrastructure? In light of all of this, what is the regional role regarding infrastructure?
Through panels, presentations and discussion groups the above topics and more will be addressed so that participants can leave the summit with an increased understanding of both the complexities and possibilities regarding infrastructure for their own communities.
(2) Regional Planning for Growth
Through panels, presentations and discussion groups the above topics and more will be addressed so that participants can leave the summit with an increased understanding of both the complexities and possibilities regarding infrastructure for their own communities.
(2) Regional Planning for Growth
Community leaders will gain new tools and knowledge that can be utilized in their community to preserve local autonomy and sustain greater prosperity through practicing regional participation. This theme explores collaborative approaches to regional planning designed to increase economic development, achieve investment readiness, manage and sustain infrastructure and identify tax and revenue sharing opportunities among neighbouring municipalities.
(3) Governance
The Regina region, similar to other areas across Saskatchewan, has experienced unprecedented growth during the last six years, as opposed to the better part of the past two decades in which Saskatchewan experienced little to no growth. In an environment of little or no growth and investment, governance and jurisdictional issues focused on contraction and managing decline. At the municipal level, communities lobbied to save local hospitals, schools and other facilities from closure.
In today’s economic environment of significant investment and growth, issues of governance have shifted toward which jurisdiction investors and developers will deal with in the short term; which jurisdiction will be expected to deliver services to developments in the medium and long term; and what type of municipal political representation will be provided by the jurisdiction. Each municipality strives for its own independence in decision making. Where inter-municipal co-operation can result in improved planning for growth, that co-operation should be nurtured as a partnership that delivers seamless service.
In today’s economic environment of significant investment and growth, issues of governance have shifted toward which jurisdiction investors and developers will deal with in the short term; which jurisdiction will be expected to deliver services to developments in the medium and long term; and what type of municipal political representation will be provided by the jurisdiction. Each municipality strives for its own independence in decision making. Where inter-municipal co-operation can result in improved planning for growth, that co-operation should be nurtured as a partnership that delivers seamless service.
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