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POP: Damage to Rural Infrastructure Due to Resource Extraction

Res #: 1-20A
Number: 1
Year: 2020
Midterm: No
Expired: No
Responses Received: Yes
Departments: Saskatchewan Ministry of Government Relations

WHEREAS The Municipalities Regulations, Subsection 12(1), regarding the maintenance and restoration of roads by hauler and Subsection 13(1), regarding payment for shortening of lifetime of municipal roads have not been amended since 2013, municipalities are not fairly compensated for repairing and maintaining rural infrastructure through road maintenance agreements;

WHEREAS Municipalities are solely responsible for repairing and maintaining rural infrastructure and current rates for road maintenance agreements are set by provincial legislation in The Municipalities Regulations;

WHEREAS the ongoing damage to rural infrastructure is not covered sufficiently by road maintenance agreements;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby and petition the provincial government to update and amend The Municipalities Regulations, subsections 12(1) and 13(1) to more closely reflect the current costs of building, maintaining and repairing damage to rural infrastructure from resource extraction.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a formula be developed to adjust rates annually.

Responses From: The Ministry of Government Relations

April 22, 2020

The Road Maintenance Agreement (RMA) rates were last increased in 2013, establishing an immediate 18.5 per cent increase for 2013, with a further 15.7 per cent increase following in 2014.

We would agree that changes to RMAs need to be reconsidered. The rates have not held up during a Court of the Queen’s Bench challenge, and consultations have revealed industry and rural municipalities have a strong interest in updates for RMA rates.

The ministry has consulted extensively on RMAs, and appreciates stakeholders’ participation and patience as we continue to work towards solutions that work for everyone involved.

This year, government will introduce some minor legislative improvements to incorporate new reporting elements and provisions that strengthen consistency, accountability and transparency.

We continue to consider whether to, and how best to, update rates.

Lori Carr, CD – Minister of Government Relations