News

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.

 Has someone you know made contributions to Canada, Saskatchewan, or your community? Recognize these contributions with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal  The commemorative medal celebrates the 70th anniversary year of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's II's accession to the Throne. A total of 7,000 medals will be presented through the Platinum Jubilee year, which ends…

The 2022 budget released by the Government of Canada will assist Saskatchewan’s cities, towns, villages, resort villages, and northern municipalities in tackling homelessness, but SUMA is disappointed in the lack of response to address mental health and addictions and ensure equal access to broadband, clean water, and safe transportation.

Nearly 800 delegates from towns, villages, cities, and northern municipalities across Saskatchewan have headed home after four days at the 2022 SUMA Convention and Tradeshow in Regina.

For the first time in more than two years, representatives from Saskatchewan’s cities, towns, villages, resort villages, and northern municipalities are gathering in-person for SUMA’s annual convention. The 2022 SUMA Convention and Tradeshow is taking place April 3-6 in Regina. Themed Connect, Convention 2022 focuses on networking with peers, SUMA, provincial decision makers, and…

Investments in health announced today in the 2022-23 provincial budget are important to Saskatchewan's hometowns, but more funding to address access to health and mental health and addictions services in the province is needed. "Access to healthcare, from emergency medical transport to mental health and addictions support, is pivotal in ensuring the quality of lives of the…

As the voice of Saskatchewan’s hometowns, many which have strong ties to the Ukraine, SUMA stands with other orders of government around the world in condemning Russia’s attacks on the Ukraine. “More than 13 per cent of Saskatchewan’s residents trace all or part of their ancestry to the Ukraine,” said interim President Randy Goulden. “As the organization that…

City of Yorkton Councillor Randy Goulden has been acclaimed interim president of SUMA. The decision was made during SUMA’s Board of Directors Meeting on February 18. “I am honoured to represent Saskatchewan’s hometowns as interim president until SUMA’s membership can elect their new president on April 5 at SUMA’s 2022 Convention and Tradeshow,” said Councillor…

Mayors from Saskatchewan’s cities are extremely concerned with the availability of mental health and addictions support in Saskatchewan. “Mental health and addictions programs have never been sufficient to meet the need in Saskatchewan, or even across Canada,” Mayor Gerald Aalbers, Chair of SUMA’s City Mayors Caucus (CMC), said. “The stress of the pandemic has…

Mayors from Saskatchewan’s cities are concerned with the challenges that the province’s most vulnerable are experiencing with the new Saskatchewan Income Support program. “We are only two months into the new support program, and we are already seeing people struggle to pay their rent,” Mayor Gerald Aalbers, Chair of SUMA’s City Mayors Caucus (CMC), said. “This…

As Canadians prepare to head to the polls on September 20 to elect Canada’s 44th Parliament, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is calling on Canada’s federal parties to commit to helping build safer, more sustainable communities and fostering a better municipal-federal relationship. “Municipalities are the order of government closest to the…