Infrastructure costs for municipalities were a prime topic at the bearpit session othat wrapped up the Municipalities of Saskatchewan convention on Wednesday.
The session saw municipalities pose questions to a panel of Saskatchewan cabinet ministers as well as Premier Scott Moe.
In one of those Q and A exchanges, minister of finance Donna Harpauer was asked directly by a councillor from the town of Churchbridge about the collection of PST. The minister was asked why they don’t give PST rebates to municipalities and why they need to collect PST on essential service projects such as a water plant or a fire truck.
Harpauer pointed out that the PST collected comes back to communities in additional revenue sharing. “The municipalities benefit from the PST that government pays government through the revenue sharing formula.”
She also pointed to the funding provided to municipalities through revenue sharing, the MEEP program, infrastructure programs partnering with the federal government, and the 10 percent reduction on power usage, among others.
“We support in many, many, many ways. If we forego some of our revenue streams, then that changes how we support going forward.”
There were also questions posed at the session on aging infrastructure, and on when grants would be available to towns to be able to repave their streets.
In speaking to reporters afterwards, minister of government relations Don McMorris was asked about the issue and the costs facing communities.
“We know that the infrastructure with many of the communities, pretty much every community, is aging and whether it is their wastewater treatment plants, whether it’s freshwater, whether it’s simply the pipes under the ground are ageing... each and every community is facing some of those challenges.”
There are a number of avenues of funding available. Municipal revenue sharing was one, but McMorris also pointed to the Investing in Canada Infrastructure (ICIP) program which includes federal-provincial-municipal dollars. The gas tax is another revenue stream available.
“Is that enough? Probably not,” McMorris acknowledged. “We’ve heard many times that the Municipal Economic Enhancement Program was well received but it was $150 (million) one-time funding that goes to help these communities.”
He added they were working with municipal partners to “fund as much as we possibly can” along with the federal government. Regarding the federal dollars that could be available, McMorris noted the priority right now in the province is for infrastructure, water and sewer, and they were pressuring the feds “to put more money into that stream as opposed to some of the other streams that they have, such as transportation and whatever.”
There were other questions posed to ministers at the bearpit session on other topics:
One question posed was on the potential loss of air traffic control at the Regina airport, and worries that NavCanada might reduce service at other airports in the province. Regina is one of seven airports under a service review by NavCanada.
Minister of highways Fred Bradshaw said he spoke to the federal minister on the issue and said he was completely opposed to the move. He said it would be “the only capital city that did not have a tower in it.”
Bradshaw added that all the federal government needed to do is give NavCanada enough money to keep them going... “we do not want to lose this tower in Regina,” said Bradshaw.
Premier Scott Moe said that a pandemic is “no time” for NavCanada or the federal minister to be reducing services at any airport. “Our airline industry is under enough pressure,” said Moe.
He added the Regina airport serves not only Regina but the southern portion of the province. He acknowledged Regina mayor Sandra Masters had raised the issue and on her urging Moe has reached out to other premiers of other provinces whose airports being impacted. Moe also said they would be reaching out to the Prime Minister in short order to ensure their voices are heard at the highest levels.
“This is absolutely no time for the federal minister to consider a change, a reduction in service such as this.”
Addictions and mental health supports came up as a topic. In his response, minister of health Paul Merriman pointed to some investments the province has made and particularly mentioned the adding of a fourth “Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine” clinic in North Battleford.
Another question came up during the session from the city of Lloydminster on whether the province could provide financial assistance for community events such as Agribition.
Minister of Trade and Export Development Jeremy Harrison said they had come forward in the summer with a $50 million tourism sector support program for which applications could be taken. As for further support, Harrison said “those discussions and considerations are under way.”
