In The Provincial Scene this week, veteran political observer Murray Mandryk floats the notion Saskatchewan's population boom needs to be spread out more evenly around the province. He contends the province's new all time high population of 1,047,701 people is being concentrated around major urban areas. He names a few - Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Weyburn, Estevan, Swift Current and Kindersley. He notes bedroom communities around the centres are also reaping the benefits of an influx of population.
The Battlefords, however, are not mentioned. Mandryk's oversight can perhaps be forgiven. The Battlefords always seem to be just on the cusp of breaking into the riches of the oil and gas exploration and drilling industry, but it's difficult to overlook the major construction projects that have brought a population boom to this community, resulting in higher rent and low vacancy rates.
The population boom has arrived in the Northwest, and a recent release by former Ruddell major Byron Olsen illustrates one roadblock to Mandryk's suggestion the benefits of population growth should be spread out into areas away from the major centres - infrastructure.
Olsen points out the lack of a potable water system in the village limits opportunities for growth. The village water source is a dugout, classifed as "hygienic." Under that classification, no new water hookups are allowed.
Olsen says there are 100 lots in the village that cannot access the village water supply. Attempts by the village to change the situation have met with bureaucratic roadblocks. Olsen says a community classified as being in a steady state or failing, Ruddell has a rough sea to navigate to bring about improvements that will allow for the village to catch the wave of the population boom.
Ruddell is not alone. The Town of Battleford, for example, has been working diligently to ensure water treatment facilities are expanded to accommodate the demand for more growth and more housing. It does so with a larger tax base, and an adequate water supply.
Mandryk suggests the province should be finding ways to create interest in smaller communities not blessed with oil wealth or proximity to larger centres. His idea for provincially funded tax breaks for those locating to these centres has merit, but before that can happen, support for adequate infrastructure must be in place.
