Economy and Infrastructure
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RC RURAL COUNCILLOR VOLUME 53 number 1 Spring 2020 ISSUE PUBLISHED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN ASSOCIATION OF RURAL MUNICIPALITIES Publications Agreement #40062693 Economy and Infrastructure Pipelines – Key Transition Infrastructure to a Sustainable Energy Future; Bridging the Broadband Gap; Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) Program; Bridge Infrastructure – A Ticking Time Bomb; SARM, FNAP & U of S Sign MOU; Asset Management; Local Leaders Bring Canadians Together RURAL The future is in your hands. COUNCILLOR Don’t let it go to waste.™ WHAT CAN BE RECYCLED? Display Devices Non-Cellular Home Audio/ Desktop Telephones Video Systems Computers Portable Computer Vehicle Audio/ Personal/Portable Computers Peripherals Video Systems Audio/Video (aftermarket) Systems Desktop Home Theatre Printers/ In-A-Box (HTB) Multi-Function Systems Devices ADDITIONAL ITEMS ACCEPTED AS OF MAY 1, 2018 E-Book Floor-Standing External Desktop & Readers Photocopiers/Multi- Storage Drives Portable Function Devices & Modems Scanners Countertop Global Positioning Video Gaming Microwave System (GPS) Personal Systems & Ovens Portable & Vehicle Peripherals (aftermarket) To find out what and where to recycle, visit recycleMYelectronics.ca/SK Killdeer Badlands, Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan RC RURAL ContentsCOVER PHOTO © Russ Heinl | Shutterstock.com COUNCILLOR inside 4 Minister of Highways and Infrastructure Message 5 Minister of Trade and Export Development Message 6 Minister of Energy and Resources Message 12 Local Leaders Bring Canadians Together 13 Bridging the Broadband Gap 14 SARM, FNAP & UofS Sign Memorandum of Understanding 16 Asset Management VOLUME 53 Number 1 18 Pipelines: Key Transition Infrastructure to a Spring 2020 ISSUE Sustainable Energy Future 20 Rural Integrated Roads for Growth Program PUBLISHED BY THE SASKATCHEWAN ASSOCIATION OF RURAL MUNICIPALITIES 21 Youth Progression into Rural Saskatchewan Publications Agreement #40062693 22 RMAA – 100 Years Strong 25 Sowing the Seeds for Mental Resiliency Official publication of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities and the Rural Municipal Administrators’ Association of Saskatchewan. Published four times per year by: Carmen Sterling, SARM Vice-President Benchmark Public Relations regular 8 2260 McIntyre Street features How Your Input Impacts Our Lobbying Efforts Regina, SK S4P 2R9 9 Harvey Malanowich, Director, Division 4 T (306) 522-9326 Advocating for Local Infrastructure and Development F (306) 522-0923 E [email protected] 10 Wendy Gowda, Director Ex-Officio W www.benchmarkpr.ca Insight into SARM's Infrastructure and Editor Associate Editors Development Committee Pat Rediger Ashley Leugner/ 11 Jay B. Meyer, SARM Executive Director Lisa Shordee (SARM) Bridge Infrastructure – A Ticking Time Bomb Layout & Design Advertising Nicole Williams Warren Nerby/ 24 Colleen Fennig, SARM Division 6 Plant Health Officer Don Shalley Making Use of Your Plant Health Officer SARM Board 26 Crime Stoppers President, Ray Orb, Cupar 27 Getting to Know SARM Vice President, Carmen Sterling, Weyburn 28 Member News Directors Bill Huber, Lipton Norm Nordgulen, Assiniboia Larry Grant, Val Marie Harvey Malanowich, Canora Judy Harwood, Saskatoon Darwin Whitfield, Coalville Wendy Gowda, Leroy (ex-Officio) Rural Councillor is now online at: www.sarm.ca @SARM_Voice Views are those of the contributors and are not necessarily the views of SARM. By being the rural voice, SARM will effectively lead autonomous municipalities in creating a vibrant, diverse our vision economy resulting in a strong, sustainable Saskatchewan. Return undelivered copies to: Saskatchewan Association SARM delivers timely, dependable programs and services to meet the needs of its members while influ- of Rural Municipalities our mission encing government policy and facilitating municipalities to work together to foster rural development and 2301 Windsor Park Road build strong, sustainable communities. Regina, SK S4V 3A4 COUNCILLOR Minister’s RURAL message BY THE HONOURABLE GREG OTTENBREIT MINISTER OF HIGHWAYS AND INFRASTRUCTURE Photo © Shutterstock.com ON BEHALF of Premier Scott Moe and the Government of was extremely valuable, and we are pleased to say that all the Saskatchewan, it is my privilege to serve you as the Minister of recommendations have been accepted. Highways and Infrastructure. The newly introduced Rural Integrated Roads for Growth Safe, reliable and efficient transportation infrastructure is (RIRG) program will allow projects to be completed on a two- important to our citizens, providing an important link to move year timeframe. We have delivered on a SARM resolution that goods and services and the citizens of our communities. Our was passed requesting this change. government recognizes this, so a key piece of Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan is focused on infrastructure investment to sup- port exports and building strong communities. Growth builds Our government plans to invest a better quality of life for Saskatchewan families and com- $30 billion in infrastructure over the munities. In fact, our government plans to invest $30 billion in infrastructure over the next decade, which includes building next decade, which includes building and upgrading 10,000 kilometres of highways. This is in addi- tion to the 14,000 km of highways improved and more than and upgrading 10,000 kilometres of 280 bridges replaced since 2008. During that time, we have highways. fully repaved more than 3,600 km of our highways. Our government continues to work to make our transpor- A number of partnerships with rural municipalities were tation system more efficient and reliable to support economic announced last fall. These agreements provide cost-shared growth. Under the previous Municipal Roads for the Economy investments for improvements ranging from reconstruction Program (MREP), we have converted more than 6,000 kilo- to paving to a primary-weight super-grid highway. Partner- metres of secondary weight highways to primary weight. We ships allow this work to be accelerated, providing immediate have also worked together to create more than 6,500 km of benefits to local residents. We will continue to pursue part- primary weight corridors for heavy truck traffic to support nerships where municipalities see an opportunity to work rural communities and the rural economy. We will continue to together to address local transportation challenges. prioritize repairs of roads and bridges in RMs and municipali- When we work together, we increase the value of the work ties. we do on behalf of Saskatchewan people and that improves The results of a recent review of MREP will bode well for the quality of life. Our commitment is to make Saskatchewan the future. We initiated the review to ensure the program the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family. was meeting the needs of rural municipalities and more ef- By working together, we will continue to build stronger fective for everyone. The feedback from the municipalities communities across Saskatchewan. 4 RC RURAL COUNCILLOR | Spring 2020 COUNCILLOR Minister’s RURAL message BY THE HONOURABLE JEREMY HARRISON MINISTER OF TRADE AND EXPORT DEVELOPMENT SASKATCHEWAN’S ECONOMY is robust, diverse and province’s export corridors and to build on national relation- growing. Capital investment in our province was estimated to ships to encourage expanded capacity at critical port access be a record $168 billion from 2008 to 2018, and the value of points. Sound infrastructure is a vital component to increase our exports reached $30.6 billion in 2018. During that time, the market access and reduce shipping costs, which will ensure province’s population has grown to the highest it has been in Saskatchewan exports remain strong. a century. The Government of Saskatchewan sees the benefit As we work towards increasing the value of our exports and of continuing to grow our province over the next decade – growing the province’s population and jobs, we subsequently not just in population, but through value-added products, encourage more business and investment opportunities. Sas- manufacturing and processes; innovation and technology; and katchewan will continue to support SaskFirst new growth tax trade partnerships – all of which contribute to Saskatchewan’s incentives, which include: strong quality of life. • The Saskatchewan Technology Startup Incentive, the In Saskatchewan’s Growth Plan: The Next Decade of Growth, most aggressive angel investment tax credit for startups 2020-2030, the province announced 20 actions and 30 goals in Western Canada; to build a stronger Saskatchewan by 2030; it is essentially a roadmap for growing the province to 1.4 million people and • The Oil and Gas Processing Investment Incentive, which increasing jobs by 100,000. A vital component of the Growth supports infrastructure upgrades for companies, as well as Plan is to grow competitiveness in the business environment value-added processing and improved emissions manage- and to increase investment growth by adding value to the ment; products we export and expanding and strengthening our • The Saskatchewan Value-Added Agriculture Incentive, trade partnerships. to assist with new or expanded value-added agricultural One of the Government of Saskatchewan’s goals is to processing; and, increase the value of the province’s exports by 50 per cent • The Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive, by 2030. To do this, we have placed a priority on our trade the first “patent box” style incentive of its kind in North partnerships and, over the