Resolutions

Whereas the Government of Saskatchewan has introduced new transparency and communication requirements through modernization and red tape reduction initiatives, including obligations to maintain municipal websites and publish agendas, minutes, and financial information; and 

Whereas small urban municipalities often operate with limited staffing and financial capacity, making it difficult to comply with these additional administrative responsibilities without reducing essential services or increasing costs to ratepayers; and 

Whereas mandatory online posting of municipal documents creates privacy, security, and communication risks, including the potential for inadvertent disclosure of sensitive information protected under The Local Authority Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (LA FOIP), and may expose municipalities to fraud attempts or targeted financial exploitation once financial information becomes publicly accessible; and 

Whereas small municipalities frequently lack the technical tools, training, and legal expertise required to manage information security, perform proper document redaction, and respond to increased public expectations for explanations of council decisions; 

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

• Provide dedicated funding to small urban municipalities for website development, maintenance, and required online postings; 

• Provide communication tools, templates, and training to help municipalities explain council decisions to the public; 

• Ensure future transparency and reporting requirements include accompanying financial, technical, and training supports; and 

• Provide resources to help municipalities manage privacy, redaction, information security, and financial theft risks associated with publishing municipal information online. 

Dear Randy Goulden;

Thank you for your April 29, 2026 letter regarding resolutions passed at the 2026 Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association Convention.

Ministry of Government Relations' Response

• As an autonomous level of government, it's important that municipalities remain accessible and accountable to their citizens.
• Current requirements were developed pre-internet and do not align with people's expectation to access public documents online. During the ministry's public survey that ran Nov-Dec 2024, 72% of responses strongly favoured online access to public documents as respondents' preferred method for accessing municipal documents. 49.8% of respondents also said it was currently somewhat inconvenient or very inconvenient to access their municipality's documents. The ministry also received recommendations from Saskatchewan's information and privacy commissioner and the provincial ombudsman. Both recommended that municipalities be required to make certain information available online.
• Changes will clarify and modernize how the public accesses municipal documents to better serve municipal residents.
• The amendments to the municipal Acts will require municipalities to make certain documents available, free of charge and in a downloadable format, on a publicly accessible website. To provide municipalities with time to prepare, these requirements will not take effect immediately.
  • Starting on September 1, 2027, municipalities will be required to publish:
    • Financial statements and auditor's reports for the municipality and any controlled corporations; and
    • Minutes from meetings of the council and any committee or body established by council.
  • Starting on September 1, 2028, municipalities will be required to publish all bylaws currently in force in the municipality.
• As of March 2024, 500 municipalities (65%) had working websites, including several joint sites that served more than one municipality, while 267 municipalities (35%) did not have working websites.
• While some municipalities may wish to operate their own website, there are multiple other ways to meet the requirement to post documents online. These include using a website jointly operated by multiple municipalities in a region, using an online portal hosted by SARM or SUMA, or using a service provider such as King's Printer or OurSask.
• The Ministry of Government Relations will continue to work with its partners in the municipal sector to provide education and support.

Congratulations on another successful convention. I look forward to continued discussions with SUMA on areas of mutual interest.

Sincerely,

Eric Schmalz

Minister of Government Relations

Minister Responsible for First Nations, Metis and Northern Affairs

Minister Responsible for Provincial Capital Commission