While Municipalities of Saskatchewan is appreciative of the federal government fast tracking federal gas tax funding, hometowns require additional emergency funding to continue providing the services residents rely on daily.
“The advance of the federal gas tax funding will help municipalities in the short-term,” said Municipalities of Saskatchewan President Gordon Barnhart. “But as our hometowns are hard at work to support residents through this pandemic, they are being hit with new expenses and experiencing significant drops in revenue. Emergency funding is needed, so we can continue to deliver vital services.”
Municipalities of Saskatchewan supported the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and called for at least $10 billion in emergency operating funding.
FCM data showed municipalities faced a minimum of $10-15 billion in near-term, non-recoverable losses due to COVID-19. While facing significant losses, Saskatchewan’s hometowns continued to provide essential services and are working to ease financial burdens for local residents and businesses.
“Saskatchewan’s hometowns are deferring tax increases, delaying utility and tax payments, and providing programs like Moose Jaw’s Small Business Support Program,” said Fraser Tolmie, City of Moose Jaw mayor and chair of the Municipalities of Saskatchewan City Mayors’ Caucus. “Our municipalities require federal help, so we can continue to ensure the health and safety of our communities during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
