Resolutions

Whereas municipalities in Saskatchewan are responsible for maintaining essential public infrastructure, including roads, water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and public buildings, which require significant investment to remain safe, resilient, and efficient; and

Whereas municipalities are at the forefront of addressing infrastructure and climate-related challenges, yet they lack the financial and technical resources needed to implement sustainable, long-term solutions. Sustainable infrastructure funding will help municipalities modernize public assets, reduce emissions, and improve resilience to future challenges; and

Whereas aging infrastructure, increasing population demands, and climate-related pressures have placed a growing financial burden on municipalities, requiring them to balance essential services with limited financial resources and unpredictable grant funding; and

Whereas the Ministry of Environment and the Government of Canada have established climate and sustainability targets that require municipalities to invest in energy-efficient infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and climate-resilient developments; and

Whereas existing funding programs such as the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) provide important resources but are often oversubscribed, complex, and insufficient to meet local infrastructure needs.

Therefore be it resolved that SUMA advocate the Government of Saskatchewan and Government of Canada to:

• Establish a dedicated, long-term municipal sustainable infrastructure funding program that provides predictable, multi-year funding for urban municipalities to support projects such as green buildings, sustainable transportation systems, water conservation infrastructure, and renewable energy integration.
• Expand eligibility for existing infrastructure programs to ensure urban municipalities have access to funding for climate resilience projects, disaster mitigation infrastructure, and emerging sustainability technologies that reduce long-term operational costs and environmental impacts.
• Streamline provincial and federal infrastructure grant application processes to reduce administrative burdens on municipalities and ensure equitable access to funding, particularly for small and mid-sized urban centers.
• Prioritize municipal-led infrastructure projects in government funding allocations to ensure that urban municipalities receive adequate support for critical community projects that contribute to long-term economic and environmental sustainability.