Saskatchewan rural municipal leaders have chosen a combination of tax measures and protests to make their case for fairer education tax on property.
After a day-long emergency convention in Regina April 22, about 900 members of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities acted immediately on the latter option, and crowded into the legislative building to take their message to the government.
The action led to an emergency debate on the issue and premier Lorne Calvert and cabinet agreed to meet with the SARM board. At the end of the day, nothing much had changed. Calvert could not promise any tax relief this year.
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“You understand the kinds of constraints that we’re under in trying to meet all the needs,” the premier told SARM president Neal Hardy on the steps of the legislature, amid calls for his resignation.
“We see this as our next significant tax issue. And we anticipate in a matter of days or weeks now a full response to the Boughen Commission, because at the root of this is how we’re going to fund education,” Calvert said.
Learning minister Andrew Thomson had planned to release his response in April. It’s now expected in early May.
Boughen’s most controversial recommendation suggested the provincial sales tax be broadened and increased by one percent, and a corresponding amount be removed from property tax. Thomson has said he intends to propose something different.
Any action can’t come fast enough for SARM delegates.
Hardy said they are not “rowdy” or known for protesting.
“But at the same time, we’ve reached the end of the patience of many people,” he told Calvert.
SARM intends to return to picket the legislative building the next time a motion of nonconfidence is introduced. Because the NDP government has such a slim majority – already requiring the vote of the speaker to pass its throne speech and budget – the delegates hope to prevent some MLAs from crossing the line to get into the building in time to vote.
Larry Grant of Val Marie made the suggestion. He called on the delegates to be militant and said the government has to realize SARM is not a pushover.
“They just laugh at us when they leave this building,” he said, referring to cabinet’s appearance before delegates at the March annual convention where education tax was a major issue.
The delegates also decided to extend discount periods and reduce or eliminate penalties for property taxpayers. The idea is to restrict the flow of money to school divisions to make their point.
The course of action was chosen from among 13 suggestions, some of which were illegal.
Some delegates said “fringing” on the edge of illegal might not be a bad idea. One said “a good shot in the groin” might wake the government up to the problem.
