Saskatchewan’s rural municipalities want their urban counterparts to stop using a name that they say confuses people and misrepresents the organization.
The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association rebranded as Municipalities of Saskatchewan just more than a year ago. The provincial government has said the organization didn’t follow the correct process for a name change, and the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities said the name implies the organization speaks for all municipalities.
At last week’s SARM annual convention, delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of asking the province to “put an immediate stop to this misuse of the term ‘Municipalities of Saskatchewan’.”
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Wendy Collinge, reeve of the RM of South Qu’Appelle, moved the resolution, saying each organization requires distinct identities.
“Our specific concern is that SUMA has moved ahead with this name change and circumvented all of the protocols that are normally required… even a legislative change,” she said.
Bill Huber, acting vice-president of SARM, said the name change causes confusion.
“This last week we were notified that at a meeting amongst municipalities a local mayor was stating that SARM now falls under Municipalities of Saskatchewan,” he told the meeting. “Late February, a media release around a wetland resolution that was passed at the SUMA convention had the public questioning how SARM could support such a resolution.”
Huber also said that before using the new name, SUMA approached an RM to join that organization instead of SARM and debated a resolution to form one municipal association.
SARM’s board has met with provincial government officials including the premier to state its concerns, ask that SUMA stop using the new name, and that it go through the correct process if it really wants to change its name.
Earlier this year, government relations minister Don McMorris spoke to SUMA delegates and asked the organization to reconsider.
New SUMA president Rodger Hayward, who is also the mayor of Naicam, said he wants to rebuild the fractured relationship with SARM.
“Our relationship rebuilding will require dedication and understanding from both associations,” said SARM president Ray Orb.
Meanwhile, SARM delegates also want the changes to provincial trespass laws enacted. Legislative amendments were passed in the spring of 2019 but have not been proclaimed. They will require anyone who wants to enter private property for activities such as hunting to obtain permission from the landowner, rather than put the onus on the landowner to post land.
“It appears that this piece of legislation is somewhat stalled and it’s been some time since there’s been any movement towards implementation and enforcement,” said Collinge. “We’re very anxious in the rural areas to see this become an enforceable piece of legislation.”
During a session with cabinet ministers, South Qu’Appelle councillor Tom Whalen said they were told a year ago that everything was in place.
“This past fall we were told the same thing again,” he said. “Are you able to commit today to a specific time of when this will actually become law?”
Justice minister Gordon Wyant said work had to be done across ministries to make sure everything is in place to allow people to get the proper permission and to communicate the changes.
“We’re fairly close, at least that’s my understanding,” he said.
Premier Scott Moe also said a last look is underway in a consultation with organizations including SARM.
