WHEREAS both urban and rural municipalities across the province have significant infrastructure deficits; and

WHEREAS municipalities across the province are facing barriers to growth including a lack of infrastructure needed to accommodate growth; and

WHEREAS good quality infrastructure is vital to the health and wellness of residents and to the livability, economic vibrancy, growth of municipalities across the province and

WHEREAS municipalities across the province have limited revenue generating opportunities;

MINISTRY OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS' RESPONSE

For 2014-15, Municipal Revenue Sharing is $256.979M, which represents an increase of 102 percent from the 2007-08 levels.  Given this rate of increase in revenue sharing, it is government's expectation that municipalities will have more funding for infrastructure costs.

Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 announced the delivery of a New Building Canada Fund (NBCF) to build public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories and municipalities.  The province has been allocated $437M over a ten year period under the NBCF- Provincial Territorial Infrastructure Component.   In addition, funding across Canada will be available through the $48 National Infrastructure Component, which is a merit based program focusing on projects that contribute to Canada's long term economic growth and prosperity, which Saskatchewan will also participate in.

As the Premier has said, the Government of Saskatchewan is ready and committed to assisting municipalities with their infrastructure deficit and will continue to work with our stakeholders to invest in Saskatchewan's  communities.