The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities joined the provincial government chorus last week, calling on Ottawa to initiate a national highways program.
But president Sinclair Harrison said that doesn’t mean the province is off the hook. He said federal money for highways could free up provincial dollars for rural roads.
Rural municipalities got only $23 million for roads in the March 19 budget. They had asked for $56 million.
Harrison said after two post-budget meetings, premier Roy Romanow told the group he would re-examine road funding.
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“We are prepared to allow him some time,” Harrison told a news conference. “We feel encouraged on the provincial scene that the premier has agreed to take another look.”
Meanwhile, SARM called on the three prairie premiers to lead a trek to Ottawa to ask for funding for a national highways system.
“Certainly we don’t want to divert attention away from the province,” Harrison said. But he admitted it’s unrealistic to expect more money for the upcoming construction season.
Romanow said the idea of a trek has merit and he planned to contact the other premiers this week to discuss it.
The premier said if the trek could accomplish a commitment from Ottawa for a “reasoned” cost-sharing arrangement, the province “could be very hard-pressed to stay out of that.”
