Resolutions

Whereas municipalities in Saskatchewan play a crucial role in economic development, yet many face limited capacity, financial constraints, and workforce shortages, which hinder their ability to attract investment, support local businesses, and drive regional prosperity; and

Whereas the 2021 Fostering Trading Area Economies Report by the Saskatchewan Economic Development Alliance (SEDA) highlights the need for stronger regional collaboration, investment attraction strategies, and resource-sharing among municipalities to enhance economic resilience and growth; and

Whereas Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan emphasizes a significant focus on “strong foundations for the next decade of growth” and highlights key goals such as “growing locally: growing small business and tourism” and “encouraging cooperation between municipalities on infrastructure investments”, all of which require strong regional economic development strategies; and

Whereas the Ministry of Government Relations 2024-25 Business Plan states that “Government Relations works to support local governments with investments and tools to serve their residents, stimulate the local and provincial economy, and partner with neighbouring communities, which leads to a vibrant and healthy Saskatchewan for all”, reinforcing the need for structured regional economic development initiatives; and

Whereas the globalization of markets, labour, and supply chains has significantly reduced economic stability for many municipalities, particularly smaller communities that are already stretched thin delivering core municipal services such as infrastructure, public safety, and recreation, leaving economic development as an afterthought; and

Whereas Regional Economic Development Authorities previously played a crucial role in supporting municipalities through investment attraction, business retention strategies, economic diversification efforts, and regional collaboration, but their effectiveness has been severely limited due to the loss of provincial funding; and

Whereas many small urban and remote municipalities lack funding to employ permanent Economic Development Officers or Community Development Officers, limiting their ability to drive local investment, business expansion, workforce development, and economic planning; and

Whereas Regional Economic Development Officers and Community Development Officers are critical for enhancing regional collaboration, improving infrastructure, increasing tax revenue, attracting investment, and addressing socio-economic challenges that affect local economies.

Therefore be it resolved that SUMA seek the support of SARM and SEDA to advocate the Government of Saskatchewan to:

• Re-establish and provide stable, long-term funding for Regional Economic Development Authorities to ensure municipalities have the necessary financial and technical resources to:
  • develop and implement regional investment attraction strategies to promote business expansion and job creation;
  • enhance regional collaboration between municipalities, First Nations, industry, and economic development organizations to build sustainable regional economies; and
  • support small urban and remote municipalities in hiring Economic Development Officers and Community Development Officers to lead local economic initiatives, improve business retention, and drive regional economic growth

Be it further resolved that SUMA advocate that any re-established economic development authority (or region) be locally driven and operated, ensuring that communities have a direct voice in economic activity and priorities to reflect local needs and aspirations.

Background:

Saskatchewan experimented with voluntary self?organized smaller development corporations during the 1980s. These were followed, in 1992, by 28 formal Regional Economic Development Authorities funded by the Province of Saskatchewan. In 2008, funding for Regional Economic Development Authorities was re?allocated to 13 economic regions. These geographic areas, called enterprise regions, were determined by the Province based on commuting patterns and labor distribution. In 2012, the enterprise region program was dissolved and provincial funding for regional economic development was terminated.

Acts affected: None