WHEREAS the Provincial Government discontinued funding for main farm access roads;

WHEREAS trucks are getting larger and hauling weights not meant for this type of road;

WHEREAS road hauls are getting longer due to the elevator and railroad closures; and

WHEREAS the cost for maintaining these roads are getting more expensive;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby the Provincial Government to provide funding for main farm access roads at $1000 per km per year.

Response from Honourable Jim Reiter, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure:

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (MHI), in partnership with SARM, is currently providing road construction assistance under the Municipal Roads for the Economy Program (MREP).   The assistance is provided for eligible roads on a priority basis. MHI has allocated up to $47 million for this program in 2009-10, approximately double the previous year expenditures on municipal road programs.

Included in the MREP are maintenance grants of $1,000 per km, per year provided to 7,000 km of municipal roads designated as Clearing the Path (CTP), primary weight corridors.   It should also be noted, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs provides grants to municipalities for their unconditional use.

In regards to Resolution No. 22-09M the Ministry does not contemplate funding main farm access roads at this time.