The Rural Municipalities (RMs) of Fish Creek and Hoodoo, along with the towns of Wakaw and Cudworth, recently met with representatives from the Ministry of Highways for an informative session about the highway construction process. The session was also attended by Batoche MLA Darlene Rowden, who was invited as a special guest.
The meeting was organized after one of the council members attended the North Central Transportation Planning Committee’s annual general meeting last April. At that meeting, the Ministry of Highways presented the steps involved in highway construction, from the planning and design phases to funding and the final decision to move forward with construction.
The key focus of the session was to give municipal representatives a better understanding of how road construction projects are selected and reviewed. According to Faye Stewart, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Hoodoo, “The presentation was really about how these projects are considered, from the planning phase to the construction phase. We were able to hear directly from the ministry about the process and how information from planning committees plays a role in their decision-making.”
The meeting allowed council members from the municipalities that weren’t present at the previous meeting to get a clearer picture of how the Ministry of Highways utilizes the information provided by local planning committees. Stewart added, “It was really about sharing that information with the rest of our council members and ensuring that we’re all on the same page when it comes to road planning and construction in our areas.”
While no specific project details or timelines were discussed, Stewart emphasized the importance of continued involvement with the planning committees, stating, “We’re definitely looking to get more involved with the North Central Transportation Planning Committee. This region extends across both urban and rural areas, and we need to ensure that information from our communities is communicated all the way up to the ministry.”
The session was seen as a positive step forward in improving communication between the municipalities and the Ministry of Highways. “It was really good to get a better understanding of how projects are selected and how the information flows,” Stewart said. “It’s important for our municipalities to voice concerns and share information that could impact road planning in our areas.”
The meeting also highlighted the role of the North Central Transportation Planning Committee, which encompasses a broad region with representatives from urban and rural zones. Stewart emphasized the importance of these committees, explaining, “There are several of these planning committees across the province, and the information they gather is crucial in helping to build an asset management database that influences road construction decisions.”
Though no commitments were made regarding specific projects, the session provided valuable insights into how the ministry reviews and selects construction projects. “They didn’t give us any firm commitments on when projects might begin or where they are in the planning stages,” Stewart noted. “They just explained the review process and how decisions are made based on the information available at the time.”
Moving forward, the municipalities of Fish Creek, Hoodoo, Wakaw, and Cudworth hope to strengthen their involvement with the North Central Transportation Planning Committee, ensuring that their concerns are heard and addressed in future highway construction decisions.