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Bridge Infrastructure Funding

Res #: 21-24A
Number: 21
Year: 2024
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

WHEREAS the cost of replacing any bridge that meets funding criteria through the current funding programs will likely be over a million dollars.

WHEREAS the current funding caps at $500,000 based on 50% of project cost, leaving the municipal portion to be 50% or more.

WHEREAS other types of municipal infrastructure (ie: wastewater or water) are typically funded with lower municipal cost ratios (such as: 1/3 provincial, 1/3 federal, 1/3 municipal).

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the provincial and federal governments for funding of bridge infrastructure to have similar funding ratios (1/3 provincial, 1/3 federal, 1/3 municipal) that is consistent with other types of municipal infrastructure funding.

Responses From: Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

April 11, 2024

  • Funding was provided to Saskatchewan bridge projects through the partnership between the Rural Integrated Roads for Growth (RIRG) Program and the Investing in Canada Infrastructure
    Program (ICIP).
  • RIRG has a funding cap of $500,000 per project. This funding cap was implemented under ICIP to align with the RIRG Program.
  • The funding cap results in lower percentages of program contributions than other ICIP projects and allows more bridge projects to be funded.
  • Programs and policies related to bridge projects funded jointly through ICIP and RIRG are the responsibility of the Ministry of Highways and SARM.
  • All federal funding under ICIP has been committed with no available funds to re-allocate to projects at this time.
  • The Integrated Bilateral Agreement between Canada and Saskatchewan for ICIP does not allow for federal funding to be allocated towards cost overruns. Federal program policies do not allow for additional federal funding to be added to a project that includes the same scope as what was originally approved.
  • The Ministry of Government Relations provides Municipal Revenue Sharing (MRS) to municipalities, which is unconditional. MRS can be used towards the municipal portion of ICIP projects.

Sheldon Green – Acting Deputy Minister of Government Relations