I got myself in a bit of hot water last week.
In the weekly newspaper that I publish, I carried an article on our most recent town council meeting with a headline that the council had rejected amalgamation suggestions.
Some members of council have kindly suggested that the reporter was at a different meeting. We are standing by our story because the council did say no to suggestions put forward.
This is not to say the council has rejected any thought of amalgamation; it just feels this is not the time to follow up on two courses of action proposed to it.
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The week’s discussions prove that amalgamation is a touchy topic. It is on the minds of many and should be on the minds of all who live and work in rural Saskatchewan.
Make no mistake, there will be amalgamation in one form or another.
Legislative changes have to be put in place to allow it to happen in some cases, but round table discussions between the government and representatives of rural and urban municipalities are ongoing and the government can put the necessary legislation in place quickly when it chooses.
In our town, as in many across the country in this millennium year, a lot of work is being done painting and sprucing up for homecoming celebrations.
Community pride is coming to the fore as people work to make their communities presentable to visitors.
Overshadowing the efforts in many, however, is the question of what the future holds.
For instance, highways are going back to gravel at a time when they are busier than ever, and this bothers people.
The department of highways may save money, but I submit that SGI will use up the savings paying for new windshields. I got a stone bruise on my windshield the other day from gravel on a highway that isn’t even on the list for conversion.
At the same time, economic development efforts are hampered by the state of the highways but, more to the point, by uncertainty about the future due to the amalgamation controversy.
Some people are still stuck on the idea that amalgamation will not or need not occur because it will not save money.
We have gone beyond that. Health reform didn’t save money either.
The government wants amalgamation because it will allow it to download services onto municipalities, as it downloaded services to health districts when they were formed.
Amalgamation will not go away and municipalities must get their ducks in a row now to be ready when it does come.
