REGINA ‑ North Battleford is one of 22 communities approved for projects under the province’s Targeted Sector Support Initiative.
The city is receiving $75,000 towards its Regional Emergency Management Plan development.
This project involves four partners, including the Battlefords Regional Communities Coalition as well as the town of Battleford and surrounding rural municipalities.
When BRCC Manager Tom Howard spoke to both Battleford and North Battleford councils in March, he explained it was a joint application to receive funding for a consultant to develop a regional management plan and also to purchase emergency management software to set up a virtual emergency operations centre. The idea is to be able to handle situations such as major fires, extreme weather and major regional emergencies.
In February, at a meeting of North Battleford city council, Fire Chief Lindsay Holm voiced his support for developing a regional plan, citing the importance of being able to respond to large-scale emergencies.
"We are going to have events which affect multiple jurisdictions at one time, and a tornado would be a perfect example of that."
The total estimated budget for that application is $100,000. With the province now committed to providing its share of $75,000 in funding, the remaining $25,000 will be cost-shared among the participants in the application.
Another local area jurisdiction receiving good funding news is the RM of Meota, for its Regional Fire and Emergency Management Services Feasibility Study. Their funding is for $75,000.
As well, the village of Borden was approved for $6,375 for its Redberry Reserve District Revival Project.
Minister of Government Relations Don McMorris made the announcement regarding the Targeted Sector Support funding on Tuesday morning in his address to delegates at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Convention.
A total of $1,004,445.25 is being committed this year to the projects in 22 communities including Regina, Warman, La Ronge, Fort Qu’Appelle, Melfort and other locales.
McMorris explained that the Targeted Sector funding is about $1.5 million set aside annually from municipal revenue sharing. The money goes towards “programs that helps communities build capacity, help communities with good governance and help regional co-operation.”
Projects are determined by the TSS Steering Committee, consisting of representatives from SUMA, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities (New North) and the Ministry of Government Relations.
McMorris told delegates at SUMA that for those who were unsuccessful this year, the funding will be offered again next year and is included in the budget. He urged municipalities to take advantage of it, because “it does help build local capacity as well as co-operation which is hugely important.”
