News

While SUMA staff are giving the Municipal Leaders' Roles and Responsibilities workshops around Saskatchewan, we also remind you that you can register for the other Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDP) modules coming up later this fall. These workshops are a great way for council members to network and learn about strengthening leadership in local government. Past attendees have had…

The SUMA (SUMA) is pleased to see the Government of Canada expanding their investment in infrastructure as announced yesterday in the fall fiscal update. See our full response in today's media release. 

Do you have a bylaw enforcement officer? SUMA and our friends at SARM are surveying members on behalf of the  Saskatchewan Association of Municipal Enforcement Officers  (SAMEO). We are looking for information on the salaries and hours for your bylaw enforcement officers. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Now that municipal elections are concluded, SUMA is looking ahead to the elections for our Board of Directors. This document explains the official procedures to elect and appoint SUMA Board members. Some members of the SUMA Board did not seek re-election in their municipalities, and some were not re-elected. All of those vacancies will be filled in accordance with our bylaws as we move…

Municipalities and First Nations are invited to apply to the Community Infrastructure Partnership Project to establish joint solid waste management projects. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is delivering the program with funds from Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada. Six partnerships between First Nations and municipalities will get facilitation and capacity building…

The provincial and federal governments announced their agreement under new federal infrastructure funding programs today, and SUMA's Vice-President of Cities, Mayor Malcolm Eaton, was on hand to give remarks.  "The residents of our hometowns expect high-quality, safe, reliable infrastructure. They deserve it," said Eaton. "This funding helps us ensure urban…

The Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) is launching a network to help local leaders get involved with the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and you can designate leaders from your municipality. Canada 150 Community leaders will not only serve as representatives during Canada 150 events, they will also share information and continue the network beyond the 2017 celebrations. Your choices…

No, that's not a typo; today, Statistics Canada thanked Canadians for "making this the best census since 1666" — the first Canadian census. The response rate was 98.4 per cent overall, and 97.8 per cent for the long-form census. Statistics Canada says the response rate will have high-quality information for virtually all communities, a major shift from…

Is your municipality interested in hiring a Community Safety Officer (CSO) to supplement policing and bylaw enforcement? To get a Special Constable Appointment, your CSO must have completed a six-week training course, and the next round of training will be held at the Prince Albert Campus of Saskatchewan Polytechnic from November 7–December 16. The deadline to register…

The Government of Canada plans to invest $120 billion over the next 10 years to build strong, inclusive and sustainable communities, and they want to hear from you. Phase 1 is already underway, and now the Government of Canada is inviting you to share your views on Phase 2 of Canada’s infrastructure plan. You can provide feedback in five ways: eWorkbooks, discussion forums, photo and video…

Canada Post has served lock-out notice, and we face a disruption to postal services as early as Friday July 8. SUMA has prepared so we can still provide services to members. This article should cover all possible changes, but if you have any further questions or encounter other issues, you can contact the office at suma@suma.org or 306-525-3727. We will monitor the situation, and revisit our…

Is your municipality going the extra mile? Submitting a nomination to the Saskatchewan Municipal Awards (SMAs) is a great way to get the message out about the great work happening in your community. The awards will give your municipality provincial exposure and an opportunity to showcase and gain recognition for your accomplishments. See this video for an explanation of what the…

Overland flooding is one of the most frequent and costly types of disaster in Canada, and the effects can be devastating for communities. The National Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP) was created in 2015 to help Canadians in high-risk communities reduce the anguish and high costs associated with major flood-related events.  Through the NDMP, the Government of Canada will cost-share flood…

Earlier this month, four representatives from Saskatchewan urban municipalities were elected to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Board of Directors: Mayor Debra Button (Weyburn) Councillor Darren Hill (Saskatoon) Councillor Randy Goulden (Yorkton) Mayor Sheryl Spence (Warman) President Button was also re-elected at the Provincial and Territorial Association representative…

As part of Canada 150 Celebrates, the Government of Canada is investing in community infrastructure. There will be $46.2 million available through Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) for the second round of the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. These dollars will invest in projects aiming to rehabilitate existing community infrastructure in Western Canada, and priority will be…