Regina Leader-Post

Municipal leaders put concerns to premier

- dfraser@postmedia.com Twitter.com/dcfraser

The Saskatchew­an Urban Municipali­ties Associatio­n (SUMA) 2018 conference wrapped up in Regina on Wednesday with a bear-pit session with provincial cabinet ministers. While the legalizati­on of cannabis and municipal revenue sharing largely dominated the talk of the week, there was a mix-bag of questions put to Premier Scott Moe’s cabinet by delegates, writes D.C Fraser. MOE ON STANLEY TRIAL

With arguably the most gripping trial in recent memory in the province underway in a North Battleford courtroom this week, Moe briefly spoke about the tense court proceeding­s prior to the bear-pit session starting.

Before the week ends, deliberati­ons in Gerald Stanley’s second degree murder trial in the shooting death of Colten Boushie are expected to begin.

Moe urged a measured reaction to the jury’s decision, regardless of the outcome. He told the crowd to remember the people of the province are better off united than divided.

PROPERTY TAXES FOR PROVINCIAL CABIN OWNERS

Parks, Culture and Sports Minister Gene Makowsky said his government will be looking into whether the 2,162 cabins located in provincial parks should be paying property taxes. In response to concerns raised by a SUMA delegate over cabin owners using services in nearby towns (such as schools), despite not paying education property taxes, Makowsky said the province is “seriously considerin­g ” making changes.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a ton of money to the (General Revenue Fund), but again, it’s about fairness and what happens in provincial parks versus municipali­ties just outside and looking at that gap,” he said.

MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTIONS FUNDING FOR NORTHERN SASKATCHEW­AN

Several questions were directed at Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit over what the province is doing to support mental health and addictions services in northern Saskatchew­an.

The minister admitted the province has had more of a “reactionar­y response” to this point, but said the government is trying to add resources as quickly as possible despite difficulti­es in recruiting or retaining employees.

WILL HOUSING STOCK FROM PROVINCE SUPPORT HOUSING FIRST?

Regina Ward 3 city councillor Andrew Stevens asked what the province is doing to support the city’s Housing First program. That program has proved successful in housing chronicall­y homeless people by providing them with a place to live an wrap-around services. So far, it has mostly been funded by federal dollars.

In response to Stevens’ question, Social Services Minister Paul Merriman said the province is supportive of the program and currently evaluating its housing stock to see if that can be helpful in helping end poverty.

MARIJUANA TOURISM

Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy asked Makowsky, who also heads the SLGA and Tourism portfolios, what the province is doing to prepare for a potential tourism industry related to the legalizati­on of cannabis.

The minister said the province has not got that far yet.

 ?? MICHAEL BELL ?? Saskatchew­an deputy premier Gordon Wyant looks on as Premier Scott Moe speaks during a question and answer session with members of the Saskatchew­an Urban Municipali­ties Associatio­n meeting at the Queensbury Convention Centre on Wednesday.
MICHAEL BELL Saskatchew­an deputy premier Gordon Wyant looks on as Premier Scott Moe speaks during a question and answer session with members of the Saskatchew­an Urban Municipali­ties Associatio­n meeting at the Queensbury Convention Centre on Wednesday.

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