Saskatchewan’s urban municipalities are calling on the next federal government to commit to a long-term infrastructure funding program to support essential services in communities across the province.
The Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) says municipalities are responsible for developing and operating 60 per cent of Canada’s public infrastructure — everything from roads and water systems to recreational facilities — yet they have the least fiscal capacity of any order of government.
“The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program has been fully allocated, but there is currently no replacement in place,” said SUMA president Randy Goulden in a news release. “Municipalities play a central role in the day-to-day lives of Canadians, but we can’t do it alone.”
The Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), which cost-shared projects between federal, provincial and municipal governments, helped build and maintain core infrastructure across Saskatchewan. Without a new funding mechanism, SUMA warns the long-term viability of municipal infrastructure is at risk.
Goulden said reliable infrastructure is vital to Saskatchewan’s communities, especially in rural and remote areas where the population is widely dispersed.
That includes high-speed internet, which Goulden described as “an absolute essential.”
“We need the next federal government to move beyond funding broadband based on population percentages,” she said. “This model disadvantages provinces like Saskatchewan, where communities are more spread out. Greater investment in local internet service providers is needed so they can continue strengthening our broadband networks.”
As federal parties campaign ahead of the upcoming election, SUMA is urging them to prioritize municipal issues and commit to a federal infrastructure program focused on local needs.
More information, including SUMA’s election hub, is available at suma.org.