SASKATOON — A resolution submitted by the RM of Fertile Belt during last week’s annual Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities conference seeks a return to Labour Market Transfer Agreement funding.
The federal government slashed $625 million from the program, leaving the provincial government to pay $17.6 million for employment and skills training in Saskatchewan — what the province would have received as its share from Ottawa.
“This motion is basically to replace funding from both the federal and provincial government that recently expired, for lack of better terms,” explained Fertile Belt Reeve Oliver Pask, who moved the motion and spoke in favour of it.
“We’re simply asking to put the funding back in place that provides and allows funding assistance for 1A driver’s licenses.”
Resolution 11-25A noted how many businesses, agricultural producers, and municipalities need employees who have a Class 1A driver’s license to perform their duties. Under the mandatory entry-level training program, getting that class of license can cost between $12,900 and $14,200 plus SGI fees for tests and medical reports. Before funding was cut, the Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant offered the opportunity to reimburse two-thirds total training cost with a per-person maximum of $10,000.
“Our ratepayers were disappointed that the funding had been discontinued as it is very expensive to send a potential employee for training,” read the resolution. “If this resolution is successful, there would be less of a financial burden to candidates/farmers wanting to obtain their license. Training is important and we want the new drivers to be safe.”
The goal of the resolution was for SARM to lobby the federal government to reverse the cuts to the LMTA funding, plus lobby the provincial government to create a labour training grant program that complements the federal funding.
A popular proposal, the resolution received 92 per cent of votes in favour.
1-25A - Insurance Discount
One resolution pertaining directly to SARM involved seeking an insurance discount program for municipalities that have security systems in their buildings or GPS tracking devices installed in equipment. The RM of Ponass Lake submitted the item, noting it would reduce risks, improve safety, and be more affordable overall.
Cody Jordison, a councillor with the RM of Lumsden, spoke against the resolution after receiving clarification from SARM staff regarding the Property Self-Insurance Program.
“SARM PSIP already charges rock bottom rates as there is no room to add in discounts for such things,” he said, requesting those in attendance vote ‘no’. “This seems like a good idea, but the way the program works, the rates are already as low as they can possibly go.”
Ultimately, the resolution was lost with an 80 per cent vote opposing the resolution.
2-25A - Changes to Election Act
The RM of Mariposa brought forward a resolution for SARM to lobby the provincial government to remove the requirement for advanced polls when eligible voter numbers are less than 100 people.
Mariposa’s Reeve, Jeremy Welter, explained how the RM held a by-election last December and had to offer advanced polls to abide by the provincial Election Act.
“Two election workers, plus our administrator cost the RM $900 to allow seven people to come and vote,” he said of the 24 voters in total that entered a ballot. “In this day and age, with rising costs and everything, there’s probably better places we can put our taxpayer dollars to. With low voter turnout already, the requirement to run advanced polls just doesn’t seem like it holds value.”
The resolution passed with 61.9 per cent voting in favour.
3-25A - Resource Revenue Sharing
The RM of Estevan presented a resolution that SARM lobby the provincial government to pay a percentage no less than 10 per cent of royalties from industrial resources collected back to the RMs from which they were extracted.
This also carried with 69.2 per cent of the popular vote.
4-25A - Tax Subclasses
Another resolution from the RM of Mariposa—and one that has been seen at previous SARM conventions— sought to have SARM lobby the province to update the Municipalities Act to make tax subclass categories, with the intention to create equity among urban and rural counterparts.
“It provides them an advantage to entice business development in the urban areas, and it’s not something that we have the ability to do,” Welter explained. “So we’re just asking for equity in the Municipalities Act.”
When put to a vote, 93.1 per cent were in favour of the resolution.
5-25A - Communities in Transition
Reeve Blair Cummins from the RM of Blucher spoke to a resolution regarding the Communities in Transition Fund.
“As many are aware, the CIT fund only winds up with slightly less than a million bucks a year in it,” he said. “The bottom line is there isn’t enough money in that fund to properly do the job.”
When the RM of Blucher removed some derelict buildings in the Hamlet of Elstow, Cummins said it still meant a $40,000 price tag.
With the resolution he supported, the provincial government would mandate urban municipalities to “contribute significantly” to the capital portion of the CIT fund.
It was a popular proposal, gaining 95.8 per cent of the votes.
6-25A - Road Maintenance
Road maintenance agreements and compensation were brought forward by the RMs of North Qu’Appelle and Corman Park, in a resolution that was split into two parts.
Firstly, they proposed that SARM lobby the provincial government to annually review road haul fees to accurately reflect actual costs of road maintenance, road restoration and loss of road life and that this be better reflected in the compensation formula.
This garnered overwhelming support with 94.3 per cent of the vote.
Secondly, a resolution was proposed that Section 12(1) be amended to allow a second option for determining compensation stating that a municipality can use a professional engineer to determine the actual road maintenance costs and that the cost of the engineering analysis will be included in the calculation for compensation.
This also passed, with 72.8 per cent of the vote.
7-25A - Roads for Growth
Again on roadways, the RM of Meadow Lake brought forth a resolution that would see SARM investigate a new program to help subsidize the use of road stabilization products for those rural roads that don’t fall under the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth program.
The resolution passed with 93 per cent of the vote.
8-25A - Bylaw Enforcement
Bylaw enforcement is a hot topic these days, and the RM of Wallace would like to see SARM lobby the provincial Ministry of Justice to expand municipalities’ abilities to enforce bylaws by increasing ways to obtain a summary conviction.
“Currently, under the setup that we have in place, we can fine anyone who’s in breach of a bylaw, but we actually have no way to collect on that fine without a summary conviction,” explained Tara Harris, Administrator with the RM of Wallace. “With only two bylaw courts in the province, it makes obtaining summary conviction extremely costly and not very time sensitive.”
That resolution was also supported, gaining 92.1 per cent of the vote.
9-25A-Bylaw Officers
Staying in the enforcement vein, the RM of Estevan proposed a resolution that SARM lobbies the province to provide resources that would employ or contract Bylaw Enforcement Officers.
James Trobert, Councillor with the RM of Estevan, noted the resolution is not new with the last time this was approached at SARM in 2012.
“Sadly, it’s now been over 13 years, and in our estimation, we’re no closer to a solution to this problem,” he said. “So we do think it is time that it be revisited, and instead of study, that there should be some action taken.”
RM of Lumsden’s Jordison opposed the motion, despite agreeing that a conversation on the subject does need to occur.
“The problem is this resolution will force SARM to create essentially a mini-marshal service,” he said, adding that such an endeavour would cost each RM $200,000 annually.
“We’re talking about creating a program for bylaw enforcement.”
The resolution was voted down with 80.3 per cent not in favour.
10-25A - Improve
Justice System
Rounding out the law enforcement resolutions was the RM of Nipawin, who wants SARM to lobby the province to improve the justice system in partnership with law enforcement and ag groups. The resolution further seeks to ensure cross-border trafficking of stolen goods and drugs be adequately investigated and prosecuted.
“We have our law enforcement officers that go out there every day,” said Arnold Schellenberg, RM of Nipawin Councillor. “When they step out their door, they don’t know whether they’re going to be coming back or not because things are not that safe out there anymore, even though we want to think that it is. So we need to support them because they’re catching our criminals.”
The resolution was carried with 86.3 per cent of the vote.
12-25A - Work-Based
Learning
Education was up next with a resolution brought forward from the RMs of Mount Pleasant and Enniskillin that would see SARM lobby the Ministry of Education to align work-based learning guidelines with the Apprenticeship Credit Program.
“Currently, there is a disconnect between programs causing employers in our area to be willing to teach students and allow them to work under the work-based program, but not the Saskatchewan youth apprenticeship program,” said Cameron Nordin, Councillor with the RM of Enniskillen. “Even if these students choose not to continue on the apprenticeship path they train for, they still gain valuable life skills.”
The resolution passed with 89.7 per cent of the vote.
13-25A - Supporting
Libraries
Public libraries were brought forward in a resolution from the RM of Corman Park, asking that SARM lobby the province to fund the public library system in order to keep pace with inflation, plus current trends in technology.
David Greenwood, a Councillor with the RM of Corman Park, spoke to the importance of libraries in his region.
“The Wheatland Library, established in 1967, serves over 100,000 people in 130 communities,” he said. “The staff and volunteers work to inspire excellence in their communities with our youth and with the general population. Books are only a small part of the resources.”
Voters agreed, supporting the resolution with 80 per cent.
14-25A - Gopher Control
Gophers are another scourge facing many RMs across the province, and the RM of Duck Lake brought forward a resolution to allow municipalities to control them. While a gopher rebate program exists, RMs and Pest Control Officers don’t have enough legislated recourse when the rodents get out of control.
The resolution was carried with 79.5 per cent of the vote.
15-25A - Farmland Security
The RM of Blucher presented a resolution regarding the Farmland Security Board, asking that SARM lobby the province and that Statutory Declarations and other pertinent information be submitted before any suspect lands are approved.
Furthermore, the resolution would also like to see escalation procedures to allow FSB staff to take further action from non-compliant entities.
“As farmers, we like lots of buyers in the marketplace when we’re selling grain, when we’re selling our machinery,” said Blucher Reeve Cummins. “But when it comes to farmland, I think we’re dealing with a different animal. The government has to decide, do we want buyers from all over the world, buying land up in Saskatchewan and being additional competition to the young farmers that are trying to get established here.”
The resolution easily passed with 94.8 per cent of the vote.
16-25A - Reinstate
4-H Funding
The RM of Lumsden proposed that SARM work with the provincial government to bring back full funding to 4-H Canada.
“4-H Canada builds the leaders of our future,” said RM of Lumsden Reeve Cody Garbutt. “The 4-H program provides youth with the opportunities to develop valuable life skills, leadership abilities and a sense of community engagement.”
The resolution received amazing support with 96.8 per cent of the vote.
17-25A - Establish Coyotes as Pests under CAP
The RM of Enniskillen would like to see coyotes classified as approved pests under the Sustainable Canadian Partnership cost-shared rebate program. Similar to the Beaver Control Program, it would allow municipalities to gain a reimbursement of up to 50 per cent for costs incurred per coyote removed by licensed fur trappers.
Norman Hall, Reeve in the RM of Elfros, voiced his concern about supporting this particular resolution.
“Anybody else see the problem here? Too many squirrels, too many coyotes,” he said. “You know, the coyotes should take care of the ground squirrels. I caution you on trying to get rid of too many coyotes, then we got ground squirrel problems even worse.”
The resolution did pass by a narrow margin, gaining 58.3 per cent of the vote.
18-25A Grain Bag Recycling Incentive
Finally, the RM of Lakeview presented a resolution asking SARM to lobby the province to make a portion of recycling fees collected by grain bag distributors and other bag collector programs refundable once those bags are returned from the point of purchase.
“The grain bag has been in the queue a few times, but now that there hasn’t been much going on with the grain bags, they’re still out there and causing trash out in fields that aren’t getting removed,” said Randy Woolrich, Councillor with the RM of Lakeview. “So they’re wanting to see what they can do for that refund from the companies to refund that back to the farmers so they can get rid of them grain bags.”
The motion passed with 73.3 per cent support.
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