NEW LEGISLATION WILL IMPROVE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Saskatchewan municipalities will soon be governed by new legislation that will give local governments more autonomy and flexibility while making them accountable to the citizens they serve. The Municipalities Act received second reading in the Legislature today. The Act combines legislation for rural and smaller urban municipalities into a standard set of statutory principles and procedures.

"The impetus for this legislation came primarily from the municipalities themselves," Government Relations Minister Len Taylor said. "The drafting of The Municipalities Act has involved the full and direct participation of the municipal sector. I commend the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM) and both municipal administrators' associations for creating change that will benefit municipal councils across the province."

The Municipalities Act balances increased flexibility and autonomy for municipal councils with provisions to ensure that municipalities are more directly accountable to their citizens, as opposed to the provincial government. The Act contains a number of measures that improve the accountability and transparency of municipal governments to the public and to ratepayers. These include more consistent rules regarding closed council meetings, requirements for public notice policies, and for publishing a municipality's debt and debt limit.

"The Municipalities Act marks a new era in Saskatchewan municipal governance," SUMA President Don Schlosser said. "I know how hard our Towns and Villages have worked to get to this stage over the past three years, and it's a very positive step in SUMA's drive to achieve greater autonomy for all municipalities. Our communities are anxiously awaiting the passage of this bill so that they can all benefit from the greater flexibility it will allow."

"The new act will facilitate a closer working relationship between rural and urban municipalities - a very necessary step for implementing our Clearing the Path Program, a program to encourage economic development of our province," SARM President Neal Hardy said.

The Municipalities Act was introduced in the fall 2004 legislative session, but was not passed. Further consultations on the new legislation were conducted with municipalities and the public in February 2005. "Municipal councils and administrators took great interest in the new legislation," Taylor said. "The tone and nature of the discussion at these sessions was very open, respectful, and positive. It is clear the municipal sector strongly supports and expects a new statute."

It is anticipated that the new legislation will come into effect January 1st, 2006.

The Cities Act and The Northern Municipalities Act are unaffected by the new legislation.

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For More Information, Contact:

Cathy Gourlie Government Relations Regina Phone: (306) 787-2687