Rural reps don’t want to change election date

SASKATOON Politicians representing rural municipalities are expressing no more interest in moving the 2020 elections than their counterparts in cities and towns.

Ray Orb, president of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), said Friday he plans to write to the provincial Minister of Government Relations Warren Kaeding to inform him of SARM’S opposition to a proposal to extend council terms by a year.

The Saskatchewan Party government has asked municipal councils throughout the province for feedback on moving October 2020 municipal elections to October of 2021 to avoid overlap with the November 2020 provincial vote.

“It’s easy,” Orb said in an interview. “We’re just saying leave us alone.”

SARM surveyed the 296 rural municipalities in the province, half of which (even-numbered) are scheduled to vote in October for the next four-year term with the other half (odd-numbered) set to vote in October of 2020.

The survey prompted 266 responses with 34.2 per cent in favour and 65.8 per cent opposed, Orb said.

Orb said he was surprised the response was so overwhelmingly against moving the election.

Under the proposed plan, those elected this year would also have their terms extended by a year to 2023, Orb explained.