With the provincial election scheduled in less than a month, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) would like to highlight key priorities for rural Saskatchewan and remind rural rate payers to ask questions of party candidates.
鈥淲e champion the value of rural Saskatchewan,鈥� states SARM President Ray Orb.聽 鈥淭he 2020 provincial election is an opportunity to ask important questions on rural broadband infrastructure, rural crime and policing, and funding to support rural municipalities, especially with the challenges brought on by the Covid19 pandemic.鈥�
Broadband is an essential service not unlike electricity and water and it is fundamental to the economic and social wellbeing of our rural municipalities and critical in the delivery of healthcare and education.聽
Rural crime prevention is key in keeping our rural communities a safe place to call home.聽 Building on initiatives like Rural Crime Watch and the Saskatchewan Crime Watch Advisory Network and increasing the availability of patrol units to cover rural areas is crucial in keeping residents safe.
Covid19 has had economic implications on industry, local business, and rural municipalities.聽 RMs need continued, predictable municipal support through provision of the same revenue sharing grant provided in 2020 and the ability to utilize the same tax tools as urban municipalities. 聽
As a champion of rural Saskatchewan, SARM is committed to advocating on behalf of our rural municipalities. Saskatchewan is a resource rich province. The agriculture and oil and gas industries drive the economy, and many of our rural municipalities are home to industries that feed the world and fuel the economy.
