This past week saw another announcement of increased federal infrastructure spending and another week of Mayor Bob Maloney not holding his breath that Yorkton will ever see any of it.
The recently re-elected mayor is encouraged, however, that the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is feeling optimistic about $2 billion of $81 billion total that has been ear-marked specifically for rural cities and towns.
“Municipal infrastructure is vital to the day-to-day life of everyone in Saskatchewan’s cities, towns, villages, and northern municipalities,” a November 2 SUMA press release stated. “Local governments own and maintain nearly two-thirds of the country’s infrastructure and yesterday’s announcement by the federal government shows their commitment and recognition of the value of investing in municipal infrastructure.”
Maloney said the City of Yorkton is ready to go whenever details emerge about what projects are eligible and when the money will flow.
“We’ll be applying for everything we’re eligible for and hopefully some of it will trickle down to rural municipalities,” Maloney said.
At the top of the list is the aging Broadway Street corridor, both underground and on the surface, a $52 million dollar project that will not happen without both federal and provincial financial input.
Depending on the details, there are other projects the City is eyeing including a new public works building. The infrastructure deficit is huge and growing, Maloney noted, and any time there is potentially new money on the table, Yorkton will try to take advantage.
“We look at every opportunity, but seldom see it work its way down to rural areas,” he said.
Maloney is hoping to get more information when a SUMA regional meeting comes to Yorkton November 16 and an upcoming Mayors Caucus.
Yorkton-Melville MP Cathay Wagantall said she has met with the MLAs within the riding and municipal councils.
“They know I’m there to help if there’s anything I can do to bring clarity to any of the funding or to make sure they have all the information they need as far as applications and timing and all that type of thing,” she said.
Wagantall was also encouraged to see funds specifically targeted at rural municipalities.
“I’m glad to actually see the government focussing somewhat again on rural and smaller cities,” she said. “It was good to hear they’re listening and aware that, certainly in our riding and in Yorkton itself, our infrastructure is really struggling.”
The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) also reacted positively to the funding announcement.
“We are pleased to see that the federal government has targeted funding for infrastructure projects in rural communities,” said SARM president Ray Orb.
SARM was particularly happy to see trade and transportation categories added to the infrastructure program noting rural needs including short lines, bridges and municipal roads were not covered under the New Building Canada Fund.
