Saskatchewan’s Government Relations Minister Eric Schmalz travelled to Ottawa Oct. 6 and 7 alongside municipal leaders from across the province to press federal officials for more flexible cost-shared infrastructure funding, according to a provincial government release.
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The delegation included representatives from the cities of Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Swift Current, North Battleford, Yorkton, Weyburn and Lloydminster, along with leaders from the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association and the Saskatchewan Association of Northern Communities.
What Schmalz told federal officials
Schmalz said infrastructure investment remains a top priority for the province’s municipalities and that current federal cost-shared programs do not offer enough flexibility for local projects.
“Investing in infrastructure remains a top priority for Saskatchewan’s municipalities and we need greater flexibility in the federal government’s cost-shared funding programs,” Schmalz said. “Through our Team Saskatchewan approach, we are able to deliver this message directly to Ottawa, supporting the ability of our municipalities to meet the needs of growing communities.”
Lloydminster mayor joins the push
Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers was among the municipal leaders who travelled to Ottawa for the meetings.
“Strong communities are built on strong infrastructure and continued partnerships between municipalities and other orders of government are key to meeting the needs of growing communities,” Aalbers said. “It is important that those needs are heard and understood at the federal level so municipalities can plan responsibly, address local priorities and invest for the future. I appreciate the opportunity to join municipal leaders from across Saskatchewan in Ottawa and continue advocating for our communities.”
Lloydminster’s dual-province status means the city, along with neighbouring Alberta municipalities such as the County of Vermilion River, relies on both provincial and federal infrastructure programs to fund roads, water systems and other local projects, a dynamic that has shaped recent coverage of the province’s infrastructure partnerships.
Why the current funding program is limited
According to the province, current cost-shared infrastructure programs are smaller in scope than their predecessor, the Investing In Canada Infrastructure Program, which delivered more than $2 billion toward 460 municipal projects in Saskatchewan, including recreational facilities, water and wastewater systems, municipal bridges and landfill projects.
The province said it is continuing to work with the federal government toward an agreement on administering the provincial-territorial stream of the Build Communities Strong Fund, the program expected to replace the previous federal infrastructure framework.
What’s next for municipal funding talks
Schmalz and the municipal leaders used the Ottawa meetings to press for broader eligibility criteria that would let municipalities apply cost-shared dollars to a wider range of project types, the province said.
No timeline for a finalized federal-provincial funding agreement was announced following the meetings. Residents with questions about the province’s infrastructure advocacy can contact the Ministry of Government Relations media line at 306-798-6095.
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