Saskatchewan needs an infrastructure renewal program for rural areas, says the province’s opposition leader Dwain Lingenfelter.
Heading into the last legislative sitting before the Nov. 7 election, the Saskatchewan New Democrat leader said last week he will raise that and other rural issues during the three-month session.
Many smaller centres can’t afford to undertake the kind of projects required, he said.
“If you have 100 people and you have to replace the water lines, putting it on the tax base of 100 people doesn’t work,” Lingenfelter told reporters.
“We have a choice of letting those communities basically fail because they can’t raise the money locally or putting together a program of assistance from the provincial government based on the wealth of our resources, to put together a major infrastructure renewal program for rural communities.”
Roads, bridges and culverts should all be included in such a program, he said.
Some small bridges cost $1 million each and some municipalities have many, he noted.
Lingenfelter said skating rinks, community facilities and seniors’ centres also need help to pay for power and natural gas.
About 30 seniors’ centres have closed in the last four years, he said, because there wasn’t enough money to keep the buildings operating.
Health care remains the number one issue for the NDP, he added.
Keeping an eye on potential flooding is another concern.
Lingenfelter, who also serves as his party’s agriculture critic, said farmers in northeast Saskatchewan might have a difficult time paying crop insurance premiums this year because they have no cash flow.
Premiums have gone up to reflect the rising commodity prices and Lingenfelter said costs might be unmanageable.
Many expect the March 7 to May 19 session to have a campaign-like atmosphere as the two main parties debate policies.
The Saskatchewan Party government has 38 members and the NDP has 20.
