Saskatchewan’s city mayors and managers met in Meadow Lake last week to discuss common issues.
As part of the meetings the mayors met with Minister Amarjeet Sohi, federal Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.
Yorkton Mayor Bob Maloney said Sohi had some encouraging things to say, in particular that the federal government may be moving to 50 per cent cost sharing approved infrastructure projects.
“That’s moving up from the usual one-third, one-third, one-third, which is huge for Regina and Saskatoon,” said Maloney, who added the issues for smaller cities is access to the funding.
Maloney said where the higher federal commitment gets interesting is if the province holds to its one-third funding, which the mayors feel they should. That would leave the local municipality funding 17 2/3 per cent of the project costs.
Programs target communities of 150,000 population, or larger, and while Maloney said there are that many people “who use Yorkton as a service centre” they are not residents under the New Building Canada Fund.
Maloney said the resident number issue was one they broached with Sohi.
“I think they are well aware of it (the issue),” he said.
Maloney said ultimately smaller cities would just like some federal dollars filtering down to help fund infrastructure needs, perhaps a program based on a per capita formula. “I’d be happy getting something,” he said.
New funding for transit and clean water and wastewater was also discussed with Sohi.
Maloney said Yorkton did receive federal funding on the recent phased-in construction of the City’s new water treatment plant, and is optimistic when it comes time for a new sewage treatment plant, expected to be needed in about eight years, there will be federal dollars for that project too.
The federal funding is certainly required, said Maloney, who said local municipalities are struggling to cover the cost of growth and renewal.
“We’re finding ourselves without the resources to do the things we need to do,” he said, adding in many instances municipalities “are taking on debt to fund growth.”
Overall, Maloney said the meeting with Sohi was a good one. He noted the Minister has municipal experience in Edmonton which helps.
“I get a very good vibe from him (Sohi),” said Maloney, calling the Minister “grounded” and with an “understanding of our issues.”
The mayors were also given a financial update in terms of what might be expected in the soon to be unveiled provincial budget by municipal staff.
“The Saskatchewan financials did not look good,” said Maloney, who noted one key area of concerns is oil futures which indicate lower prices ahead than the province is forecasting.
It is the anticipated tight provincial budget which has had the City of Yorkton working to manage costs, said Maloney.
“We want to be as efficient as we can be because we saw this coming,” he said.
As for the current revenue sharing formula between the province and municipalities, Maloney said “it is not set in stone,” and while altering the program “would be a mistake” it could be a place the province looks to as a way to help them get closer to their goals.
The group is discussing provincial funding levels for highways that run through cities, the potential impact of aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels, and assessments, in particular that reviews have taken up to three years making it difficult for municipalities to budget.
Maloney noted 2017 is an assessment year, and moving forward he would like to see it happen more often.
“We’d like to see it every two years … four years is too big a jump,” he said.
