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M.L. reps appreciate attendance at SUMA convention

Feb 7, 2018 | 10:39 AM

After a busy few days at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) convention this week, Meadow Lake mayor Gary Vidal, city manager Diana Burton and Coun. Tom Harrison say they left feeling positive.

The group travelled to Regina to take part in the various sessions, which included keynote addresses, Premier-Elect Scott Moe’s first public address as the leader of the province, breakout meetings and networking opportunities with colleagues from cities, towns and villages across Saskatchewan.

“We’re all there with baited breath looking for messages that might pertain to our municipality,” Vidal said. “We’re always looking for those signals as to what might happen budget wise that would affect us.”

He said delegates heard about the developments surrounding a renewed formula for revenue sharing funding for municipalities, and looks forward to seeing how that will take shape in the months to come.

“Revenue sharing is something we all appreciate and have grown to come quite reliant on,” Vidal said. “That predictable funding, under the circumstances we’re always concerned that could or may change. Always looking for confirmation our funding and program. We don’t have all the answers, but have some idea of how things will progress now.”

For Burton, a highlight was a keynote speech by Doug Griffiths, who penned a book called 13 Ways to Kill Your Community.

“He did a lot of work on community development,” she said. “He did a pretty inspiring address.”

Harrison said he appreciated the breakout sessions that allowed staff from various municipalities to discuss and share ideas on cannabis regulation and sales.

“It was interesting to talk not only about how it will affect not only the province, but the municipalities,” he said. “We talked about some of the decision we’re going to have to make. It opened our eyes in a few places, like the smoking legislation or lack thereof in our own city. We’ll be having that discussion at council moving forward fairly quickly.”

Overall, Vidal said the group was pleased to attend the event and interact with a number of partners and leaders.

“I think the way we move forward on this is finding opportunities to have adult conversation about the issues at hand,” he said. “At the end of the day, whether it’s funding from the province or the federal government, all comes from the same people, I think it’s imperative for all of us to work together for the benefit of that taxpayer as a whole.”

 

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath