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Launched this Wednesday, January 24, 2024 in Cotonou, this three-day training course is part of the Municipal Partnerships for Innovation-Women in Local Politics (PMI-FPL) project. The project is implemented by ANCB in collaboration with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and financed by Global Affairs Canada. The session is led by executives from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities…

The City Mayors’ Caucus and Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) acknowledge the recent strides the province has taken in adopting a new action plan for mental health and addictions, which includes a homelessness strategy and other additional investments in mental health and addictions. Among other items, we are pleased with the 500 new addiction treatment spaces over the…

SUMA is pleased with the Government of Saskatchewan’s focus on homelessness, mental health, and addictions in yesterday’s Throne Speech. Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) has advocated government for more action on the mental health and addictions crisis, going so far as to declare this crisis a cornerstone in our advocacy. We have also continually advocated for more…

The SUMA City Mayors Caucus recently met in the City of Melville to discuss the shared issues affecting the cities and residents of our province. Some of the most critical issues continue to be homelessness, and the negative effects of homelessness on the homeless themselves and on the neighbourhoods, businesses, and individual residents of our province. “The Saskatchewan Income Support…

Provincial investments are important to improving the quality of life in Saskatchewan’s cities, towns, villages, resort villages, and northern municipalities. With the release of the 2023-24 provincial budget, SUMA recognizes the province’s effort to improve the lives of Saskatchewan’s residents, particularly through increased funding for infrastructure and health services.

Annually the SUMA Convention and Tradeshow brings municipal issues to the attention of the provincial government and the public. As SUMA prepares for the 2023 event, the association is continuing to call on the provincial government to address enduring issues in Saskatchewan’s hometowns including reduced access to health care and the costs of landfill decommissioning.

As municipalities finalize their municipal budgets and prepare for the 2023 construction season, Saskatchewan’s hometowns are continuing to feel the pinch of PST on municipal construction projects. Cities are paying millions of dollars in PST on infrastructure projects designed to improve the quality of life for their residents and surrounding areas.

Saskatchewan’s city mayors continue to be concerned by the challenges faced by their most vulnerable residents and are calling on the Government of Saskatchewan to review both the Saskatchewan Income Support program and the Social Housing Program. “These programs are supposed to help our residents in need. But we continue to see individuals struggle to either pay their rent or gain…

Treaty 4 Territory, Regina, Sask.– To raise awareness and engagement in local democracy, local government organizations in Saskatchewan have launched a resource to support Grade 4 educators as they teach students about governance. The resource, Who Governs Us? Who Governs the Land? focuses on governance at the local, community, civic, and provincial levels, including both Métis and…

On November 8, SUMA met with Premier Scott Moe to bring hometown concerns to the head of the provincial government. There were many topics discussed. A consultation protocol agreement to give municipalities a seat at the table: This agreement would lay out a process to be followed every time the government is making decisions that affect municipalities. It would lay out how many days…

With the release of Saskatchewan Chief Electoral Officer Michael Boda’s final report on the 2020 provincial election, SUMA is once again calling for a change to the municipal election date for Saskatchewan’s cities, towns, and villages. “Saskatchewan’s Chief Electoral Officer has reiterated that more space should be created between municipal and provincial elections, and…

In July 2022, the International Property Tax Institute (IPTI) completed a report titled, “Review of the Property Tax System in Saskatchewan, April 2022.” SUMA engaged IPTI to conduct the independent external review of the property assessment and taxation system in Saskatchewan in relation to best practices from other jurisdictions.

On behalf of Saskatchewan’s hometowns, SUMA, in coordination with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and other provincial and territorial associations, is continuing to call on the federal government to absorb the retroactive pay costs associated with the new RCMP collective agreement. “Safety is a top priority in our hometowns, and we truly value the work of those protecting…

Mayors from Saskatchewan’s cities are calling for a review of the province’s social housing program, specifically eligibility criteria, as thousands of affordable housing units sit vacant. “Stable housing is a basic need,” Mayor Gerald Aalbers, Chair of SUMA’s City Mayors’ Caucus, said. “There are individuals in need of adequate, affordable shelter in…

As the province prepares to welcome 230 individuals displaced by war in Ukraine, SUMA and Saskatchewan’s cities, towns, villages, resort villages, and northern municipalities are ready to help.