Saskatchewan rural municipalities continue to push for more infrastructure funding from the next federal government.
Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, said he is making the familiar requests for better broadband and bridge-repair programs because there is much more work to be done.
Federal governments always pledge to spend more to connect rural and remote Canadians but Orb said it’s not happening fast enough.
“The feds need to put more funding into the Universal Broadband Fund,” he said. “That money I think is probably pretty well all allocated and it’s just not enough. They need to pay more attention.”
Read Also
Canada’s plant hardiness zones receive update
The latest update to Canada’s plant hardiness zones and plant hardiness maps was released this summer.
Orb also said the definition of rural should be narrowed.
“When we’re talking about rural, we’re not talking about communities with 40,000 people like the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) does, we’re talking about farms and ranches,” he said.
SARM and others have called for internet service to be deemed an essential service like other utilities, especially considering how the COVID-19 pandemic affected daily life during restrictions.
Rural municipalities need more funding for bridge repair and replacement in most provinces. Saskatchewan is asking for funding that is dedicated to rural areas and that can replace a large number of bridges.
Orb said large cities get lots of money for transit services but Ottawa hasn’t seemed interested in transit services between small communities. Stimulus funding allocated during the pandemic has helped a bit but SARM is eying the Investing in Canada fund in the future.
“We get calls frequently from RMs that can’t afford to replace their bridges,” he said. “If you don’t have a good bridge, what good is a good road?”
SARM also says the carbon tax and its effect on the competitiveness of the province’s farmers remains a concern. The organization said the federal carbon offset system under development must recognize past and ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Business risk management programs should also be an election priority for the parties.
Orb said the cost-sharing agreement between the federal government and provinces should be more flexible. He said the framework that expires in 2023 should be changed now.
SARM urged producers to ask their local candidates about these topics.
