News

This year's Mayors Summer School wrapped up Tuesday, and Leader-Post reporter wrote a story about the experience. You can check it out in Wednesday's Leader-Post. We've also created a photo album on our Facebook page documenting the action for those who couldn't make it. Thanks to all the mayors who attended!

The executive vice-president of the Business Council of British Columbia has named Regina and Saskatoon among the "stars" of Canadian cities, based on median family incomes across 33 metropolitan areas. Jock Finlayson calls the cities' strong showing reflective of Saskatchewan's "buoyant economy and enviable basket of export-oriented commodity…

Thanks to higher PST revenues in the last fiscal year, the pool for the municipal operating grant is going to be $8.3 million bigger in 2015-16. The revenue sharing program is based on one percentage point of the PST. Since it began in 2007, the Saskatchewan-made funding program has made our municipalities the envy of our counterparts across Canada. To find the total for your municipality,…

The Ministry of Government Relations has provided the following information for municipalities, in light of the recent flooding. Municipalities that require emergency equipment, such as sandbags, water barriers, pumps, or any additional support should contact the Ministry of Government Relation's Emergency Management and Fire Safety branch directly at 306-787-9563. Any private citizens…

Is your municipality doing something new, innovative, ahead of the curve – maybe even award worthy? Are you working with neighbouring municipalities? Submit a nomination for the eighth annual Saskatchewan Municipal Awards! This is your chance to be recognized in front of your peers at our next convention. For more information on the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards (SMAs), visit their website.…

Beginning tomorrow, representatives from municipalities across Canada will gather in Niagara Falls, Ontario for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Annual Conference and Tradeshow. Four members of the SUMA (SUMA) Board of Directors will be running for positions with FCM. Get more details in our media release, and best of luck to them all!

SUMA has long advocated for sustainable funding for community airports. In 2010, the SUMA Board of Directors endorsed a policy advocating for additional funding for airport infrastructure in southern Saskatchewan. The Community Airport Partnership (CAP) program has since received a much-needed boost to continue building links among Saskatchewan and national and international markets. This is…

The Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) and the SUMA (SUMA) have entered a partnership to collect information on Saskatchewan practices for regional collaboration on recreation services and to develop a guide to help local governments establish regional partnerships. We have contracted independent firm HJ Linnen Associates to conduct the research. This research project has…

SUMA members, we want your feedback. Please fill out this quick survey on the partners' program we run during our annual convention. Your responses will help us plan a successful Convention 2015.

On Friday, March 28, 2014, the Government of Canada launched the New Building Canada Fund (NBCF) – a $14 billion, 10-year plan to invest in provincial, territorial, and municipal infrastructure. Under the NBCF, there are three components that total $14 billion over 10 years. The National Infrastructure Component – $4 billion/10 years The Provincial/Territorial Infrastructure…

You may have heard last month that the Ministry of Environment is partnering with SUMA to manage a grant to support municipal recycling infrastructure in Saskatchewan in preparation for the upcoming MMRP. We are pleased to tell you that you can now send in your application for eligible projects. The program guidelines and application form are on the program page. To get the wheels turning,…

The provincial government released the 2014-2015 budget yesterday afternoon in the legislature. SUMA's response is that we are pleased with the investment in urban governments, but continue to have concerns with the lack of details on the Building Canada Fund. Government media release on budget's support for municipalities Budget documents SUMA media release

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) released a report entitled “Municipalities Are Richer Than They Think” on February 24, 2014. The report says when all revenues received by cities are calculated, including transfers and user fees, the actual amount of funds received by cities amounts to 15 cents out of every tax dollar in Canada rather than 8 cents argued by FCM. The…

The SUMA (SUMA) and the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA) are partnering on a research project to identify Saskatchewan practices focussed on the collaboration of municipal governments in the provision of parks and recreation services. Local governments recognize the value and benefits that the provision of parks and recreation services offer to individuals, families and…

The 2014 federal budget is missing important details to support our cities, towns and villages in their efforts to help our province grow despite promises of action. Yesterday’s budget lacked details regarding the Building Canada Fund (BCF) despite the 10-year, $14 billion fund being announced in the 2013 federal budget. For more details, read the full media release.