(File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Rural politics

Local R.M.s prepare for SARM convention

Mar 8, 2019 | 4:55 PM

The impending carbon tax has been a hot button issue across the country in recent months, and at least two reeves in the Prince Albert area are hinting they will ask questions about it at next week’s Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (R.M.) convention in Saskatoon.

The conventions runs Monday through Thursday at Prairieland Park. R.M. of Kinistino Reeve Vance Schmyr said he received a few phone calls from concerned taxpayers.

“I think until it totally finalizes, I don’t think anyone really knows enough about it. Hopefully it works itself out where it won’t be a big game changer,” he said.

R.M. of Buckland Reeve Don Fyrk echoed Schmyr’s concerns and said he heard some people in British Columbia received a $129 carbon tax on their power bill. He explained taxpayers are faced with a double-edged sword.

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“Trudeau is going to put [the carbon tax] in there’s no doubt and people are going to have to bite the bullet and pay it. But if the conservatives get in and knock off the carbon tax, and people will be like ‘fine they got rid of the carbon tax’ but in the meantime the price of gasoline has gone up, the price of diesel has gone up, the price of your groceries has gone up,” he said.

Some of the specific discussion items on the agenda next week include the emergence of club root in the province, Chronic Wasting Disease, and Solid Waste Management. The delegates will also have an opportunity on Tuesday to engage in open dialogue with the Ministers of the Environment, Agriculture, Highways, Government Relations, as well as Corrections and Policing. R.M. of Shellbrook Reeve Doug Oleksyn said he hopes to hear more details about the province’s asset management plan.

“I know where we are, we are partly done, but we are still looking at a major expense,” he said.

In an effort to get a better sense of the status of the province’s infrastructure, all municipalities have been told to provide a status report of their respective assets which includes roadways, buildings and equipment (snow plows and mowers).

The annual bear pit session with the provincial cabinet and Premier Scott Moe, has been scheduled to take place on Wednesday.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell