YORKTON - Long-time Yorkton Councillor Randy Goulden was recently re-elected president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association at the organization’s AGM and convention.
Goulden—who has served as president since 2022 -- faced challenger Michelle McKenzie, who is Mayor of Maple Creek and Vice President of Towns for SUMA.
McKenzie, who was elected to town council in Maple Creek in 2012, has been serving as a southwest SUMA board member since 2020, most recently having been acclaimed to VP of Towns during the April 2024 SUMA convention.
Goulden was first elected to the SUMA board in 2000, serving as interim president since 2022, and has served on every city and SUMA committee.
In the election Goulden retained her position with 58.4 per cent of the vote (278 ballots) to McKenzie’s 41.6 per cent (198 ballots), with a total of 476 ballots cast.
Goulden told Yorkton This Week she has stayed involved with SUMA because she can be a conduit to the provincial organization for the city.
“It extends the work to Yorkton city council,” she said, adding SUMA is largely an advocacy organization dealing with the higher levels of government – provincial and federal – on issues important to its 458 urban municipalities. “Being on Council in Yorkton I see some of the things that are on the top of our (SUMA’s) list for advocacy.”
Topping that list is the need for municipal infrastructure renewal and how to pay for the long list of what is required, offered Goulden.
After infrastructure comes other key things which are a concern to municipalities, such as public safety and community well-being.
The issues are at the core of SUMA’s strategy for the recent provincial election and now the current federal election, said Goulden, adding it’s important to make sure candidates seeking election at the higher levels fully understand urban municipal needs.
Part of the need of course is dollars to pay for needed municipal work. Limiting the ability of municipalities in the ability to only generate tax revenue from property taxes.
“We need a new revenue structure,” said Goulden, adding they need a dialogue with the other levels of government regarding what a new structure might look like and how it might be implemented.
The current system dates back to confederation in 1867 and simply no longer fits current needs, said Goulden.
“We’re still using Queen Victoria’s hand me downs,” she said, adding nothing from more than a century ago is the same today including municipal funding needs.
So with a new four-year team ahead, what does Goulden see as a goal?
The SUMA head said over the last three years SUMA has undergone a major review and updating its governance model, moving from a board of 18 to now only seven. Those seven are supported by three caucuses focused on specific areas; villages and northern communities, towns and cities. (Yorkton Councillor Dustin Brears has been appointed to the city caucus).
“Now we’re implementing the new governance process,” said Goulden.
