“We meet at least once a year,” explained Yorkton Mayor Mitch Hippsley, adding they alternate between Regina and Saskatoon and smaller cities.
“The last one in Yorkton was 10-12-years ago.”
In preparation for the meeting the Mayors held a Zoom session in April to lay out the framework of what would be discussed when they met in person.
It also helped to determine just which provincial department the cities would eventually need to have dialogue with regarding the various issues discussed.
And, when it came to issues there were several, said Hippsley.
There was some talk around when municipal elections should be held in the province, an issue arising out of the last election which was held later in the fall because of a provincial election, and the weather for the municipal election was not good, said Hippsley.
The cities would like to see the municipal election held in early September.
“But, ultimately that’s determined by the province,” noted Hippsley.
There was also extensive talk around the cost of policing. The City of Yorkton pays 90 per cent of RCMP costs, said Hippsley, adding smaller centres pay only 70 per cent.
Talk did include discussion about municipal police as an option, but Hippsley said the costs are prohibitive, and change is unlikely in the foreseeable future.
Hippsley also takes on a new role coming out of the meeting, as he will chair a committee looking at mental health and addictions issues in Saskatchewan cities, and how best to facilitate better services.
As it stands the provincial departments of health, justice and social services, all play a role in regards to mental health and addiction services, said Hippsley, adding “sometimes they can’t share information well” between departments.
The new committee will look to be something of a liaison, he added.
The issues are certainly province wide, noted Hippsley, citing gunfights in Meadow Lake and opioids, and mental health stresses coming out of the COVID pandemic.
“It’s everywhere, not just the big cities,” he said.
Property assessments also proved a ‘hot button’ issue for the mayors.
“We had a huge discussion on assessment reform,” said Hippsley, who added locally there has been issues regarding the newest numbers, but they know now that the local situation is not unique.
“Every other community was in the same boat as Yorkton.”
Hippsley termed the mayors ‘mad’ at the current system, and united in wanting change, that would see the assessment system tweaked to be more in line with the realities of Saskatchewan.
The issues were given the meeting’s highest priority, and the mayors will be taking their concerns to the province, said Hippsley.
